BELFAST is looking to challenge London as the libel capital of the world as some of America’s biggest stars, including the singers Britney Spears and Whitney Houston, prepare to sue through its courts.

Spears is to sue the National Enquirer, based in Florida, for reports that her marriage to Kevin Federline was at an end. She is also suing seven other US and British publications that repeated the claims.

Foreign claimants have long been attracted to London because of the strict libel laws, but Belfast offers the prospect of high payouts, faster justice and lower costs.

Paul Tweed, senior partner at Johnson’s solicitors, who has been instructed by Spears, said he was also being consulted by Houston, Paula Abdul, the singer, and Steve Bing, film producer and father of Liz Hurley’s son Damian…

One law firm, which represents American celebrities suing in London, said: “They come to the UK because it is a good place to sue. In the US there is a public figure defence which means that if you have celebrity status you can’t sue anybody in America unless you can show that they acted from malice.”

Paul Tweed, senior partner at Johnson’s solicitors, who has been instructed by Spears, said he was also being consulted by Houston, Paula Abdul, the singer, and Steve Bing, film producer and father of Liz Hurley’s son Damian.

Belfast has similar libel laws to England, but waiting lists are shorter and the costs can be 75% lower. Many cases go to juries, which make higher awards. In one Belfast case Barney Eastwood, the boxing promoter, received an award of £450,000, the highest in Irish legal history.

If an American publication does not have assets in Britain, Tweed sues distributors and website hosts. He is currently taking action against Yahoo!