A leading left-wing establishment figure confronts the government head-on. A stunning, closely argued challenge to the track record of undermining civil liberties, and a vivid, provocative survey of the state of law and justice today.
Acute, questioning, humane and passionately concerned for justice, Baroness Helena Kennedy is one of the most powerful voices in legal circles in Britain today. Here she roundly challenges the record of modern governments - even, or especially, "benign" democracies - with regard to essential democratic rights, and insists that we return to the fundamental values of equality, fairness and respect for human dignity.
She argues that in the last twenty years we have seen a steady erosion of civil liberties, culminating today in extraordinary legislation which undermines long established freedoms. Are these moves a crude political response to demands for law and order? Or is the relationship between citizens and the state being covertly reframed and redefined?
This dazzling, controversial and thought-provoking study covers issues such as the right to privacy and the increase in electronic surveillance; the questions raised by advances in genetics; the procedural issues of "double jeopardy" and the proposed-reduction of trial by jury.
Kennedy examines the huge increase in the number of women in prison and the inequities of the welfare system. But she also probes into issues that involve our relationship with other states: asylum, immigration and terrorism, daring to ask - is the climate of fear being deliberately used by the government to roll back our liberties?
Written with warmth, energy and passion, full of telling examples and moving stories, 'Just Law' offers a vivid, provocative survey of the state of Britain today. This is an unforgettable book about the changing face of justice - and why it matters to us all.
