PE1975 : Reform the law relating to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)
Petition Summary
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review and amend the law to prevent the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.
Petitioner: Roger Mullin
Status: Closed
Date published: 22 September 2022
Click here for the full petition
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Consideration
SPICe Briefing (131.2KB, pdf) (131KB, pdf) posted 24 October 2022
Committee Meetings
18 January 2023: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Law Commission, the Law Society of Scotland, National Union of Journalists and Scottish Newspaper Society and the Scottish Government.
Official Report of Meeting 18 January 2022
4 October 2023: The Committee agreed to take evidence from the petitioner, the Anti-SLAPP Research Hub, the Law Society of Scotland, Graeme Johnston and the Minister for Community Safety at future meetings.
Official Report of Meeting 04 October 2023
17 April 2024: PE1975: Reform the law relating to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and heard evidence from—
Roger Mullin, Petitioner
Professor Justin Borg-Barthet, Convenor, Anti-SLAPP Research Hub
Ahsan Mustafa, Civil Justice Committee, Law Society of Scotland
Graeme Johnston, Scotland Anti-SLAPP sub-working group, UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition
The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting.
Official Report of Meeting 17 April 2024
01 May 2024: The Committee took evidence from—
Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety
Martin Brown, Solicitor, Scottish Government Legal Directorate
Michael Paparakis, Policy and Bill Programme Manager
Official Report of Meeting 01 May 2024
15 May 2024: The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Victims and Community Safety.
Official Report of Meeting 15 May (, ) posted 21 May 2024
Written Submissions
PE1975/A: Scottish Government submission of 6 October 2022 (53KB, pdf) (53KB, pdf) posted 28 October 2022
PE1975/B: Petition submission of 16 November 2022 (171.6KB, pdf) (172KB, pdf) posted 09 December 2022
PE1975/C: Michelle Thomson MSP submission of 5 December 2022 (12KB, pdf) (12KB, pdf) posted 19 December 2022
PE1975/D: Anti-SLAPP Research Hub, University of Aberdeen submission of 14 December 2022 (63.4KB, pdf) (63KB, pdf) posted 06 January 2023
PE1975/E: Ekklesia submission of 15 December 2022 (76.5KB, pdf) (76KB, pdf) posted 06 January 2023
PE1975/F: Ewan Kennedy submission of 13 January 2023 (66.7KB, pdf) (67KB, pdf) posted 17 January 2023
PE1975/G: Transparency International UK submission of 16 January 2023 (60.1KB, pdf) (60KB, pdf) posted 17 January 2023
PE1975/H: Scottish Law Commission submission of 24 February 2023 (60.8KB, pdf) (61KB, pdf) posted 06 March 2023
PE1975/I: Minister for Community Safety submission of 2 March 2023 (111.6KB, pdf) (112KB, pdf) posted 20 March 2023
PE1975/J: Law Society of Scotland submission of 28 February 2023 (74.5KB, pdf) (74KB, pdf) posted 20 March 2023
PE1975/K: Graeme Johnston submission of 20 March 2023 (88KB, pdf) (88KB, pdf) posted 20 April 2023
PE1975/L: National Union of Journalists submission of 30 March 2023 (88KB, pdf) (88KB, pdf) posted 21 April 2023
PE1975/M: UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition submission of 30 March 2023 (79KB, pdf) (79KB, pdf) posted 20 April 2023
PE1975/N: Anti-SLAPP Research Hub, University of Aberdeen submission of 30 March 2023 (137KB, pdf) (137KB, pdf) posted 20 April 2023
PE1975/O: Petitioner submission of 5 April 2023 (57KB, pdf) (57KB, pdf) posted 02 May 2023
PE1975/P: The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland submission of 10 April 2023 (113KB, pdf) (113KB, pdf) posted 02 May 2023
PE1975/Q: Petitioner submission of 13 September 2023 (55KB, pdf) (55KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2023
PE1975/R: Newsbrands Scotland submission of 19 October 2023 (52KB, pdf) (52KB, pdf) posted 06 November 2023
PE1975/S: Petitioner submission of 11 March 2024 (98KB, pdf) posted 08 April 2024
PE1975/T: Michelle Thomson MSP submission, 28 March 2024 (57KB, pdf) posted 10 April 2024
PE1975/U: Petitioner submission, 18 April 2024 (41KB, pdf) posted 25 April 2024
PE1975/V: Minister for Victims and Community Safety submission, 23 April 2024 (152KB, pdf) posted 24 April 2024