Seditious Libel Comm 317

"Seditious libel is a criminal offence under English common law. Sedition is the offence of speaking seditious words with seditious intent: if the statement is in writing or some other permanent form it is seditious libel. A statement is seditious if it "brings into hatred or contempt" the Queen or her heirs, or the government and constitution, or either House of Parliament, or the administration of justice, or if it incites people to attempt to change any matter of Church or State established by law (except by lawful means), or if it promotes discontent among or hostility between British subjects. A person is only guilty of the offence if they intend any of the above outcomes. Proving that the statement is true is not a defence. It is punishable with life imprisonment". (thanks to our friend Wikipedia)

So how can we have free and open elections if we could still be prosecuted for seditious libel?

I dont think that it would be very like wise that we could hold free and open elections while still being able to be prosecuted for seditious libel. Even if the candidates were to tell the truth in their elections it could still be seen as seditious libel. Anything that could cause a discord agasint the government is seen as seditious libel, and in elections when one is running aginst another there is often times when their arguments could cause discord.