Green party leader calls for inquiry into UK libel laws and Trafigura reporting

Leader of the UK's Green Party and newly-elected MP Caroline Lucas has called for a government inquiry into libel laws affecting the UK media's reporting of oil trader Trafigura.

Lucas, who is MP for Brighton Pavilion, has submitted an Early Day Motion (EDM) asking for an inquiry, because of concerns that "the chilling effect of the UK's libel laws" is preventing proper reporting of Trafigura's activities.

The company and its lawyers Carter-Ruck were at the centre of last year's super-injunction debate. In October the law firm abandoned an attempt to prevent the Guardian from reporting a parliamentary question referencing the injuncted Minton Report, a scientific study commissioned by Trafigura, which described the chemical components of waste dumped in the Ivory Coast in 2006 and their potentially toxic effects.

In December the oil trader also ended a legal dispute with BBC Newsnight over a feature published in May 2009. The programme agreed to apologise for allegations made about waste dumping in the Ivory Coast on air and pay £25,000 to a charity of Trafigura's choice, as well as legal costs.

The EDM, which is a motion submitted by an MP for debate in the House of Commons, states: "That this House, concerned that due to the start of fresh legal proceedings in the Netherlands on 14 and 17 May 2010 concerning the multinational commodities trading group Trafigura, including allegations that UK nationals and UK firms may have been involved in illegal waste shipments and a subsequent cover-up and that payments were made to truck drivers in return for favourable witness statements and given that this is not being fully reported in the United Kingdom because of the chilling effect of the UK's libel laws, calls on the Government to launch a full inquiry into the allegations against Trafigura and to review the libel laws to ensure that this matter can be reported fully in the UK."

The move is part of a pledge made by Lucas in her maiden speech to parliament on Thursday and coincides with the start today of Trafigura's trial in the Dutch courts over allegations of waste dumping off the coast of Holland, according to reports.

"There was particular concern that the media in this country were being prevented from reporting the issues fully and fairly. This remains the case, for new legal actions concerning Trafigura have been launched in the Dutch courts, and are being reported widely in other countries, but not here," said Lucas in her speech last week.

In a statement given to the Independent, Trafigura says: "Trafigura has always made clear that (...) the press should be able to report on the matter. So far as we are aware, there are no 'new legal actions' in Holland, as Ms Lucas suggests."

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