Q&A with Liberty's Martha Spurrier

Since 1934 Liberty has worked tirelessly to defend rights and freedoms, using a combination of strategic litigation, policy advocacy, public campaigning, investigative journalism, media work and through the provision of free legal advice and information.  Our vision is a UK where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect. We hold the powerful to account so rights are protected and freedom is valued for all. We are independent and unshakeable. Our principles are guided by evidence and expertise – not political agenda, profit or popular opinion. We are not afraid to speak uncomfortable truths or challenge intolerance, injustice or abuse of power wherever we find it – but we always treat people with respect. We inspire and empower others to defend their own rights and the rights of their family, friends and communities.

The intensity of the last two years means there’s been a lot to learn! Looking at how Liberty works, we’ve shown time and time again that the way you work is as important as the work you do – whether that’s taking care of staff during a pandemic, looking critically at organisational culture, or interrogating how we share power and make space for others. 

This work has been all the more important given the challenging times we’re living in. Over the past two years we have faced the collision of a public health crisis, an onslaught of oppressive legislation, revelations of police abuses of power and a Government intent on putting itself above the law. This has meant that collaboration, mobilisation and taking care of each other has been a vital part of building a movement that can sustain itself in the face of adversity. 

With such a powerful and ambitious Government, we’ve learnt that it’s up to us to articulate a positive vision for a better world. Politicians right now can’t be trusted to lead with integrity, compassion and principle so organisations like Liberty need to build big, broad, influential coalitions to shape the narrative and push for progress. 

Right now civil society feels unified, supportive and strategic. It’s an exciting time to be building coalitions and working shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone from big climate NGOs to grassroots groups. There’s a real recognition that solidarity is vital at times like these, and a determination to dream of a better future, even if keeping the hope alive takes work. 

At Liberty we’re thinking far into the future. We want to be ambitious, bold and creative, running campaigns that change a generation’s attitudes towards human rights, so that the world we want to see becomes something the public demand. Our research tells us that people – particularly young people – feel politically homeless and want something hopeful to believe in. That’s a big opportunity for anyone in the business of creating a free and equal society. From policing to technology, homelessness to mental health, we will campaign for nurture, protection and support in place of coercion, punishment and control. 

Now is the time for funders to invest in long-term work that lays the foundations for change. There will be quick wins of course, but the focus has to be on building the sector’s capacity to create a positive and concrete vision for rights and freedoms.

We need funders’ support to develop influential policies and deliver persuasive campaigning that sows the seeds for a political agenda that may not bear fruit for a decade. We can’t change attitudes overnight - we need resources to run evidence-based, impactful campaigns, capable of winning hearts and minds over years, not weeks or months. We need support to try new and innovative ways of working – like Liberty Investigates, the ground-breaking investigative journalism unit that Luminate helped us build. 

And the whole sector, but particularly grassroots groups and people on the front line, need support to manage the emotional and practical burdens of doing this important work.