Gracie Bradley, Liberty · [email protected]

February 25, 2021 at 11:31 AM

The Protect Everyone Bill

Dear John, Since the Prime Minster announced his roadmap out of lockdown, our front pages have been filled with promises of haircuts, holidays and freedom.  Unfortunately, the plan isn’t a guarantee of freedom or a return of our civil liberties.  Dangerous suggestions have been made about…

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  Laura Smith, Liberty · [email protected]

February 22, 2021 at 4:08 PM

Needed then: needed now

Dear John, Liberty turns 87 today.  We were founded in 1934 in response to the brutal policing of the hunger marches – a series of protests that had arisen because of inequality, mass-unemployment, and oppression.  We’ve faced many challenges and had many successes over the years. From de…

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  Sam Grant, Liberty · [email protected]

February 19, 2021 at 2:43 PM

Know your rights and fight to protect them

Dear John, Right now, those in power are working on plans that would limit our ability to challenge bad decisions and injustice.  For over 20 years, the Human Rights Act (HRA) has given ordinary people the ability to challenge the Government and public institutions when they get it wrong.…

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  Sam Grant, Liberty · [email protected]

February 2, 2021 at 3:37 PM

No one above the law

Dear John, Plans are underway to limit your ability to challenge injustice. For years, ordinary people have been able to enforce their rights and challenge governments and public bodies when they get it wrong.  But the Government is looking at ways to weaken ‘judicial review’, the legal p…

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  Gracie Bradley, Liberty · [email protected]

January 15, 2021 at 2:50 PM

Save your rights

Dear John, This Government’s ‘review’ of the Human Rights Act is now underway.  This week the panel called for submissions from organisations and the public, and said it expects to report its findings in the summer. This may sound pretty harmless, but it’s part of a concerted attack on ou…

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  Sam Grant, Liberty · [email protected]

January 14, 2021 at 4:33 PM

Can’t police your way out of a pandemic

Dear John, Lockdown is hard at the best of times – but made worse by the Government’s relentless focus on criminal enforcement.  Confusing messaging from the very top means neither the public nor police are sure what is and isn’t lawful. Last week Derbyshire Police fined two women who dro…

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  Gracie Bradley, Liberty · [email protected]

January 1, 2021 at 10:02 AM

New year, new threats. Join Liberty today

Dear John, If you’re struggling for resolutions, you can’t go wrong becoming a member of Liberty. JOIN LIBERTY TODAY → For almost a century, Liberty members have been making the UK a fairer, more equal place for everyone.  In 2020, Liberty client Ed Bridges won the world’s first legal cha…

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  Andrew Taylor-Dawson, Liberty · [email protected]

December 17, 2020 at 9:27 AM

Take our survey

Dear John, TAKE OUR SURVEY I’m getting in touch today to ask you to take our quick survey and tell us about how you like to hear from Liberty and what motivates you.  We’re contacting everyone who has signed up to our email list in the last few years, to understand who you are and ensure …

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  Gracie Bradley, Liberty · [email protected]

December 10, 2020 at 3:51 PM

Safeguard our rights and access to justice

Dear John, This week the Government announced a “review” of our Human Rights Act. This may sound innocuous enough, but it is part of a concerted attack on our ability to stand up to power. For years, ordinary people have been able to enforce their rights and challenge governments and publ…

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  Olivia Percival, Liberty · [email protected]

December 6, 2020 at 11:52 AM

Your donation doubled: 48 hours left

Dear John, Two days left to have your donation to Liberty doubled at no extra cost to you! Since the Big Give Christmas Challenge launched on Tuesday, we’ve had over £34,000 donated, which is amazing. Thank you to everyone who has already donated. We now need to raise just under £6,000 in…

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  Olivia Percival, Liberty · [email protected]

December 3, 2020 at 11:29 AM

Halfway there: help us reach our target

Dear John, There’s still time to have your donation to Liberty doubled at no extra cost to you! If you make a donation towards our Advice and Information service through the Big Give Christmas Challenge before 12pm Tuesday 8 December, your gift will be doubled at no extra cost to you. Tha…

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  Olivia Percival, Liberty · [email protected]

December 1, 2020 at 12:02 PM

Your donation doubled NOW

Dear John, Starting now: any donation you’re able to make to Liberty until Tuesday 8 December will be doubled!  Liberty’s legal advice service is a lifeline for anyone unable to find or afford a lawyer, anyone trying to exercise their fundamental right to protest, and anyone confused by e…

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  Gracie Bradley, Liberty · [email protected]

November 5, 2020 at 3:09 PM

Our ability to hold Gov to account is under threat

Dear John, No one should be above the law, but politicians are trying to limit people's ability to challenge the Government and other public bodies when they breach our fundamental rights.  Since 1934 Liberty has been standing for justice, freedom and respect for everyone in the UK. We wi…

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  Gracie Bradley, Liberty · [email protected]

November 4, 2020 at 2:32 PM

Know your rights: order our FREE guide

Dear John, Human rights are never more fragile than in times of crisis. At the start of this pandemic, the Government introduced legislation which watered down the rights of people in Britain.  They created the Coronavirus Act – a law we are fighting to repeal because it contains powers w…

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  Gracie Bradley, Liberty · [email protected]

November 2, 2020 at 4:24 PM

New lockdown legislation and guidance must protect everyone

Dear John, This morning I wrote to the Prime Minister laying out urgent steps to ensure everyone in the UK is adequately protected during the upcoming national lockdown. Liberty has supported proportionate measures to protect public health since the start of the pandemic. But far from all…

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  Gracie Bradley, Liberty · [email protected]

October 30, 2020 at 9:39 AM

Know your rights: order our FREE guide

Dear John, Human rights are never more fragile than in times of crisis. At the start of this pandemic, the Government introduced legislation which watered down the rights of people in Britain.  They created the Coronavirus Act – a law we are fighting to repeal because it contains powers w…

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  Sam Grant, Liberty · [email protected]

October 27, 2020 at 3:26 PM

DON’T DECRIMINALISE TORTURE - email your MP

Dear John, The Government’s Overseas Operations Bill is just the latest attempt to enable the powerful to dodge accountability for their unlawful actions. The Bill will effectively decriminalise offences committed by the Armed Forces abroad after five years – including torture and war cri…

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  Olivia Percival, Liberty · [email protected]

October 22, 2020 at 2:28 PM

Help us reach our target

Dear John, On Monday we launched our £15,000 Crowdfunder appeal so that we can keep providing free human rights legal advice to anyone who needs it during the pandemic.  The great news is that more than 250 people have responded, giving in excess of £6,000 so far. This gets us on the way …

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

October 2, 2020 at 10:57 AM

Coronavirus Act update – fight isn't over

Dear John, This week, despite growing public dissent the Coronavirus Act was renewed and remains on the statue books for another six months. Late in the day, the Government struck a deal with MPs who were planning to scrap the Act. They promise to consult Parliament over major lockdown re…

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  Andrew Taylor-Dawson, Liberty · [email protected]

September 29, 2020 at 3:02 PM

MPs voting on Coronavirus Act tomorrow – email yours today

Dear John, Tomorrow, MPs will decide whether to re-enact the Coronavirus Act, a piece of legislation that contains powers that would allow this Government to ban protests, strip back social care, close borders and suspend elections.   Use our easy tool to email your MP today and tell them…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

September 25, 2020 at 2:17 PM

Liberty members explain why the Coronavirus Act must be scrapped

Dear John, This week I wrote to you about why the Coronavirus Act must be scrapped. Today, I’m writing to you with further evidence of why this legislation must not be allowed to remain in place – and this evidence comes from your fellow Liberty members.  One of the cruellest parts of the…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

September 21, 2020 at 10:41 AM

Scrap the Coronavirus Act – end human rights lockdown

Dear John, This pandemic has changed our way of life in ways we couldn’t have imagined – and in ways you might not realise. In just over a week, MPs will decide whether to re-enact a piece of legislation that contain powers that would allow this Government to ban protests, strip back soci…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

September 18, 2020 at 2:32 PM

Liberty Lecture: an invitation

Dear John, We are delighted to invite you to the third annual Liberty Lecture on Thursday 24 September from 6-7pm.  Liberty, alongside the Royal Holloway English Department, and the Institute of English Studies, are hosting leading voices to discuss human rights, civil liberties and the i…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

September 4, 2020 at 1:49 PM

New poll calls for rights-respecting pandemic response

{salutation~Default salutation Supporters} MPs returned to work this week – well, by video link at least – and the message to our elected representatives couldn’t be clearer: scrap the Coronavirus Act. The Act was rushed through Parliament in just one day, creating radical new policing, b…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

August 21, 2020 at 9:01 AM

Join Liberty to defeat facial recognition

Dear John, Last week Liberty and campaigner Ed Bridges won the world’s first legal case against police use of facial recognition.  The Court of Appeal said South Wales Police’s use of the tech in public is unlawful because it violates our right to privacy and breaks data protection and eq…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

August 11, 2020 at 2:22 PM

Victory – police facial recognition is unlawful

Dear John, We won! Today the Court of Appeal has said that South Wales Police’s use of facial recognition technology in public is unlawful. The Court’s ruling will have major implications for police forces across the country and is a crucial step in our mission to get the privacy-abusing,…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

August 7, 2020 at 1:37 PM

The Coronavirus Act: tell us what you think

Dear John, Tell us what you think about the Coronavirus Act  I’m writing to you today to ask for your thoughts on the Coronavirus Act.  Since the beginning of the pandemic, Liberty has worked to decipher the often confusing guidance from Government and provide people with easy to understa…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

July 29, 2020 at 11:16 AM

The Coronavirus Act must go

Dear John, This month we launched our campaign to repeal of the Coronavirus Act.  These new laws and powers, ushered through parliament just before lockdown, drastically reimagined the powers of the State, and stand on the statute books as the biggest threat to civil liberties in over a g…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

July 21, 2020 at 1:16 PM

Interim Director announced

Dear John, As you may have seen from our recent job adverts, Liberty has been looking for an Interim Director as I’ll be taking parental leave this autumn. After a rigorous recruitment process, I’m delighted to announce that Gracie Bradley has been appointed for this interim period and sh…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

July 13, 2020 at 9:54 AM

Join Liberty at this crucial time

Dear John, Join Liberty from £1 per month  Lockdown has eased in most of England – but our rights and freedoms are still at risk.  With the support of people like you, we’ve campaigned protect our human rights during the coronavirus pandemic. The Government passed legislation – the Corona…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

July 10, 2020 at 1:12 PM

Take action: your rights depend on it

Dear John, Lockdown has now eased in most of England. But while the end might appear to be in sight, our rights and freedoms are still at risk. The Government passed legislation – the Coronavirus Act – which creates the most drastic reimagining of our civil liberties ever seen. Since the …

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  Sam Grant, Liberty · [email protected]

July 6, 2020 at 11:12 AM

TAKE ACTION: reinstate legal aid

Dear John, Everyone should be entitled to their day in court, not just the rich and powerful. But an oversight in new ‘legal aid’ regulations is keeping some of the most marginalised people locked out, denying them a chance of justice.  Legal aid is money made available for people who can…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

July 3, 2020 at 2:53 PM

Scrap the Coronavirus Act

Dear John, This weekend the lockdown is easing in most of England.  But while the end might appear to be in sight, the lockdown of our rights and freedoms has no firm time limit. Exactly 100 days ago, the Government passed legislation – the Coronavirus Act – that was the most drastic reim…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

June 26, 2020 at 8:06 AM

Fighting facial recognition in court

Dear John, This week, we’ve been in court challenging South Wales Police’s ongoing use of facial recognition technology in public. Our client, Ed Bridges, has been scanned by police facial recognition cameras twice – once when Christmas shopping, and again at a peaceful protest. The polic…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

June 18, 2020 at 2:48 PM

Tell your MP to end the hostile environment

Dear John, The coronavirus crisis has laid bare many inequalities in our society – and the inhumanity of Government policies. Imagine being too afraid to access healthcare during a pandemic. Imagine your children being denied free school meals because of where you were born.  Imagine bein…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

June 11, 2020 at 3:19 PM

We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter

Dear John, Liberty was founded in 1934 in reaction to the brutal policing of a protest. We champion anyone whose rights come under threat. We exist to stand up to power.    We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and all those united in the struggle against racism and the fight for…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

June 4, 2020 at 8:44 AM

Tell your MP: end the hostile environment

Dear John, The coronavirus crisis has laid bare many inequalities in our society – and the inhumanity of Government policies. The Government’s racist hostile environment is one such example. And we need change now.  Imagine being too afraid to access healthcare during a pandemic. Imagine …

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

June 1, 2020 at 3:53 PM

Tell us: has your council cut care services?

Dear John, Some local councils have cut back care services in the middle of this public health emergency – leaving people without basic support. The Government allowed these vital services to be stripped away in preparation for this pandemic.  Why should people who need social care be for…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

May 26, 2020 at 3:15 PM

JOIN LIBERTY FROM £1 PER MONTH

Dear John, JOIN LIBERTY FROM £1 PER MONTH We’re living through extraordinary and anxious times. At Liberty we’ve been working hard to keep everyone informed of their rights during this crisis.   Liberty has been safeguarding rights and freedoms for more than 85 years. We’re continuing thi…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

May 15, 2020 at 1:56 PM

UPDATED: Liberty’s coronavirus advice hub

Dear John, This week the Government changed the lockdown rules. But the messaging on what we can and can’t do is even more confusing than before. And the amount of money you can be fined for getting it wrong has increased.  This is a recipe for injustice. There have been countless stories…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

May 5, 2020 at 11:42 AM

Coronavirus: Know your rights

Dear John, We’re more than a month into the coronavirus lockdown, and there’s still a lot of confusion around what the law is, when we can lawfully go outside and what the police can do. Last month  we launched Liberty’s coronavirus advice and information hub to help you navigate this cri…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

May 1, 2020 at 3:02 PM

Become a member from £1 per month

Dear John, JOIN LIBERTY FROM £1 PER MONTH The coronavirus crisis has changed our lives and we’re all making sacrifices. Extraordinary measures are needed in extraordinary times, but we can’t afford to let our hard-won rights slip away. Liberty is fighting to protect everyone’s rights and …

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

April 22, 2020 at 8:56 AM

Join Liberty from £1 per month

Dear John, JOIN LIBERTY FROM £1 PER MONTH The coronavirus crisis has changed our lives and we’re all making sacrifices. It has brought out our resilience, but has also made existing issues and challenges worse. And in times like this, it’s those already on the margins of society who suffe…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

April 8, 2020 at 11:44 AM

Don’t surrender your rights

Dear John, We’re now into the third week of the coronavirus lockdown. But while we long for the day we’re out the other side, we can’t afford to ignore what the long-term impact of this public emergency could be. History demonstrates a stark reality: those at the margins of society often …

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

April 3, 2020 at 2:17 PM

We won’t sacrifice our rights

Dear John, Over the past few weeks, we’ve all had to adjust to a new normal. It’s hard to come to terms with not being able to leave home whenever and for whatever reason we want.  There’s also real fear of what the long-term impact of this crisis will be. As history demonstrates, those a…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

March 17, 2020 at 5:27 PM

Human rights and coronavirus

Dear John, We’re living through an unprecedented pandemic: a human rights response is vital to keeping us safe. From ensuring sick people are treated with dignity to supporting undocumented migrants to access healthcare – the values of fairness, equality and dignity must underpin the Gove…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

March 11, 2020 at 1:00 PM

Know your rights: Order our guide

Dear John, The Government plans to block the Human Rights Act from applying to incidents that took place before 2000. This is a threat to all of us.  This dangerously misguided plan would have prevented the Hillsborough families from uncovering the truth and fighting for justice.  And onc…

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

March 2, 2020 at 2:55 PM

Oppose plans criminalising Gypsies and Travellers

Dear John, Facing imprisonment for your way of life should be unthinkable, but it’s exactly what will happen to Gypsy and Traveller communities in the UK if we don’t act now.  The Government is looking for feedback on proposals to criminalise trespassing and ‘unauthorised encampments’ – p…

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  Sam Grant, Liberty · [email protected]

February 25, 2020 at 10:54 AM

PETITION: Scrap the Vagrancy Act which punishes poverty

Dear John, People across the country are being cruelly arrested and fined simply for being homeless – but we can stop this now. TAKE ACTION → Karl Smith was arrested in 2008 for asking someone for 20p to make a phone call. He was fined before being sent straight back onto the street.  He …

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  Martha Spurrier, Liberty · [email protected]

February 17, 2020 at 11:29 AM

Criminalised for your way of life

Dear John, Imagine the way you, your family and your friends live your lives suddenly becoming illegal. Imagine facing imprisonment for following centuries-old traditions. Imagine if the police could take your home away.  It should be unthinkable, but it’s exactly what will happen to Gyps…

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