Daily Telegraph and other national publications hint at leaving Northern Ireland

Daily Telegraph hints at leaving NI over DUP libel reform block. http://t.co/2O2j0DM126
— Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson) June 28, 2013

Newton Emerson in the tweet above drew my attention to the report that the Daily Telegraph has hinted that it may leave Northern Ireland because of the old libel law regime. Newton Emerson also made an interesting and very Emersonian remark on Twitter: on this occasion, on the DUP's readiness to pursue publishers and social media users for libel damages:

@fatman11 Get with the times. The DUP mostly sues Facebook.
— Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson) June 28, 2013

Then interesting tweet on where the power to free expression really lies:

Were Jimmy Spratt's "nutter" libel threats emboldened by his free MLA's libel insurance?
— Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson) June 28, 2013

You can read the Daily Mail report on how national publications may leave Northern Ireland following refusal to change local libel laws, here. Read the same story in the News Letter here.

Interestingly, Paul Tweed denied claims that he lobbied DUP to uphold the old libel laws.