[1993] AC 534. Derbyshire County Council bought an action against the Times in defamation, which had accused it of financial mismanagement. At first instance the judge held that the Council had standing to sue, but the CourtOfAppeal held that the Art.10 of the EuropeanConventionOnHumanRights required that the people be free to criticise the government. The HouseOfLords held that whether Art. 10 was engaged or not was not relevant (this was before the HumanRightsAct1998 came into force); there was ample precedent in English law for holding that individual has an absolute right to to comment on and criticise the organs of the state.
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