These torts represent the common law's historical attempt to balance the need to protect claimants against those who inflict economic harm and the wider need to allow effective, even aggressive, competition (including competition between employers and their workers).
In Mogul Steamship Co Ltd v McGregor, Gow & Co [2] the plaintiffs argued they had been driven from the Chinese tea market by a 'shipping conference', that had acted together to underprice them.
[4] The House of Lords ruled that trade unions should be liable in tort for helping workers to go on strike for better pay and conditions.
But this ruling riled workers so much that it led to the creation of the British Labour Party and passing of the Trade Disputes Act 1906.
[7] Several of the economic torts in English law, in particular inducing breach of contract and "tortious interference" (otherwise known as causing loss by unlawful means), have been reviewed and clarified by the House of Lords in the 2007 case of OBG v Allan.