Wrekin MP calls on government to update laws on social media comments about court cases
Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard, has called on the government to update the law to punish people who make comments on social media about defendants in criminal cases before their trial has commenced.
Mr Pritchard tabled a Parliamentary Question to the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves MP, to ask what steps she is taking to support the prosecution of individuals who post comments online about defendants prior to trial which could prejudice legal proceedings, and to sanction the tech platforms on which those comments are published.
In response, the Solicitor General said the government "recognises that social media is putting these long-established rules under strain especially in cases where partial or inaccurate information appears online."
The Solicitor General also explained that the government asked the Law Commission to expedite part of their review on contempt of court rules and that, in November 2025, the Law Commission published part 1 of their report setting out recommendations for a new framework of contempt liability.
Mark Pritchard MP said: "The current law is not fit for purpose and social media comment can seriously undermine and prejudice legal proceedings. Everyone has the right to a fair trial, without social media interference. Tech platforms, as well as individuals, should be sanctioned if they are proven to have prejudiced a trial. It is unfair on victims and defendants".
