The second reading of Lord Lester’s Defamation Bill is taking place in the House of Lords today.
The Bill, which received its first reading on 26 May 2010, contains wide-ranging proposals for the reform of defamation law, including the introduction of a statutory form of the Reynolds public interest defence, a single publication rule, a requirement that corporate claimants prove actual or likely "substantial financial loss", and the mandatory striking out of all claims unless the claimant is able to show that the publication has caused or will cause "substantial harm" to their reputation.
Peers including Lords Hoffmann, Woolf and Pannick will debate the Bill. A full list of those speaking can be accessed here, and the debate can be watched live via the UK Parliament website.