Bonfire of the Liberties
New Labour, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law
1st Edition
Published on 11. March 2010
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-0-19-958477-2 (ISBN)
Description
This provocative book confronts the corrosion of civil liberties under successive New Labour governments since 1997. It argues that the last decade has seen a wholesale failure of constitutional principle and exposed the futility of depending on legal rights to restrict the power of executive government. It considers the steps necessary to prevent the continued decline of political standards, arguing that only through rebalancing political power can civil liberties be adequately protected.
Relying on extensive new research of inaccessible sources, the book examines the major battlegrounds over civil liberties under New Labour, including the growth and abuse of police power, state surveillance and counter-terrorist measures. It unfolds a compelling narrative of the major battles fought before Parliament and in the courts, and attacks the failure of the political and legal systems to offer protection to those suffering abuses of their civil liberty at the hands of an aggressive Executive. In doing so, it offers a definitive account of the struggle for civil liberty in modern Britain, and a controversial argument for the reforms necessary to contain executive power.
Relying on extensive new research of inaccessible sources, the book examines the major battlegrounds over civil liberties under New Labour, including the growth and abuse of police power, state surveillance and counter-terrorist measures. It unfolds a compelling narrative of the major battles fought before Parliament and in the courts, and attacks the failure of the political and legal systems to offer protection to those suffering abuses of their civil liberty at the hands of an aggressive Executive. In doing so, it offers a definitive account of the struggle for civil liberty in modern Britain, and a controversial argument for the reforms necessary to contain executive power.
Reviews / Votes
...the definitive text on Labour government's attack on liberty and rights... * Henry Porter, Liberty Central Blog, Guardian.co.uk * ... As a handy catalgoue of the duplicity and chicanery displayed by this administration it is excellent... the book's greatest achievement is to translate often dense legal argument into something slightly more palatable to the general reader... * Paddy McGuffin, Morning Star * Britain in 2010 is undoubtedly a much better, informed and relaxed place to live than 13 years ago; one would really need to be a hidebound reactionary not to recognise this. On civil liberties, however, Labour urgently needs to restore its credentials. It could make a start by having a long discussion with Professor Ewing and other critics about finding the right balance between liberties and effective protection against terrorism. * David Winnick, Tribune * ...core content of considerable value...an excellent critique * Geoffrey Robertson, New Statesman.com * Keith Ewing has written an excellent and damning indictment of New Labour's record on human rights and the rule of law, marshalling his evidence with ease and great narrative power. It is a real tour de force. * James A. Grant, University of Oxford, The Modern Law Review * The book more than makes the case for the need for a new approach to civil liberties * Janel McLean, The Edinburgh Law Review * ...a thought-provoking addition to current debates regarding the best form of protection of human rights in the United Kingdom, and will no doubt add fuel to the fire of those already calling for a reassertion of the supremacy of Parliamentary sovereignty in the face of perceived attacks from "unelected judges" under the Human Rights Act 1998 * Jane Gordon, Public Law *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Lawyers, political scientists, academics, policy makers, students and general readers interested in civil liberties, human rights and public law.
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
669 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-958477-2 (9780199584772)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/2010
1st Edition
Oxford University Press
€65.60
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Keith Ewing is Professor of Public Law at King's College London, and is one of the country's leading civil liberties lawyers. He is the author of Freedom under Thatcher: Civil Liberties in Modern Britain (with Conor Gearty) and his other books include The Right to Strike and The Struggle for Civil Liberties (also with Conor Gearty).
Content
INTRODUCTION