Unlock Democracy: Brown, Cameron and Clegg contribute to Charter 88

Unlock Democracy: Brown, Cameron and Clegg contribute to Charter 88’s anniversary collection

Unlock Democracy: Brown, Cameron and Clegg contribute to Charter 88’s anniversary collection

Politico’s Publishing today (Monday 15 December) publishes Unlocking Democracy: 20 Years of Charter 88, celebrating Charter 88’s legacy and the challenges which British democracy faces today. A unique collection, it features chapters by all the party leaders: Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

In December 1988 the New Statesman magazine published Charter 88. Its opening words were: ‘We have had less freedom than we believed.’ Those words are as true today as they were then. Yes, there have been great achievements: devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; a Human Rights Act; and a Freedom of Information Act. Our country is a better place as a result of what Charter 88 and others have achieved.

But some things have also got worse. The government’s response to the rise of Al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism has been to curb some of our traditional freedoms. This is why Unlock Democracy, which incorporates Charter 88, will continue to fight for rights and freedoms in the UK.

Unlocking Democracy: 20 years of Charter 88 is a series of essays that looks back at what has been achieved and, even more importantly, seeks to identify what needs to be done now. It offers a diverse and challenging collection from across the political spectrum which is sure to stimulate debate. The impressive list of contributors comprises:

Anthony Barnett; Geoffrey Bindman; Gordon Brown; David Cameron; Douglas Carswell; Louise Christian; Nick Clegg; Deborah Coles; Simon Davies; Brice Dickson; Peter Facey; Zac Goldsmith; Katherine Gundersen; Nick Herbert; Simon Hughes; John Jackson; Helena Kennedy; Helen Margetts; Bhikhu Parekh; Trevor Phillips; Alexandra Runswick; Helen Shaw; Trevor Smith; Alan Trench; Stuart Weir

Published by Politico’s Publishing in association with Unlock Democracy.

ENDS

Notes:

(1) Unlock Democracy is the successor organisation to Charter 88 and is the UK’s leading campaign for democracy, rights and freedoms.

(2) For more information, a quote or an interview, please contact James Graham (020 7278 4443 / 07966 237 550/ james.graham@unlockdemocracy.org.uk).