Counterfire
log in
Home
Join
About
Conferences
Groups
Constitution
Contact
Sitemap
News
Events
Features
Analysis
Opinion
History
Book Reviews
Book extracts
Video
Paper
Podcast
Theory
Authors
In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies.
By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies.
I agree
civil liberties
civil liberties
Freedom Convoy: The far right is on a roll in Canada
The Freedom Convoy is being driven by the far right and must be opposed, but the state’s draconian Emergency Powers Act is not the answer, argues John Clarke
Tory logic: if the voters don't like you, stop them voting - CounterBlast
Boris Johnson plans to use Trump-style voter suppression as part of his desperate bid to cling to power, writes Sean Ledwith
'Keep making noise': Priti Patel defeated in the Lords but the battle to kill the bill continues
The defeats suffered by the Tories in the House of Lords is a victory for the movement but the bill isn't dead yet, writes Terina Hine
Kill the Bill: If the Tories want a fight, they have one
Protesters took to the streets around the country in renewed opposition to the Tory attack on our right to protest
The party's over for Johnson - CounterBlast
Johnson’s authority is diminishing among both the public and his own MPs faster than Omicron is spreading, writes Terina Hine
9/11 and the legacy of endless war
John Clarke analyses US imperialism in the twenty years since the September 11th terrorist attacks
Kill the Bill: movements continue to converge on the streets of London – report
Activists from different causes remain on the streets to defend the right to protest, reports Jamal Elaheebocus
Don’t believe the hype: Tories love talking about freedoms while actually taking them away - CounterBlast
Johnson is using libertarian rhetoric about Covid to hide an increasingly authoritarian reality about everything else, writes Sean Ledwith
NEU Conference: there's power in a union
NEU conference took stock of a challenging and momentous year, but also addressed major current issues and plotted a way ahead, reports Tony Dowling
Policing political speech: the big threat from Big Tech
Writing for Spring Magazine, David Bush looks at the threat Big Tech poses to ideas which challenge the status quo
Bristol protesters defiant against the violent police crackdown
Protests in Bristol show no signs of abating and there are opportunities to deepen the movement against the Tories’ authoritarian crackdown, reports Tom Whittaker
Kill the Bill! Manchester marches for the right to protest – Report
The movement to stop the Tories’ clampdown on protest and to challenge violence against women continues in Manchester, reports Karen Buckley
Sarah Everard: Banning vigils is an assault on our rights – CounterBlast
The authorities are wrong to clamp down on public expressions of defiance following the killing of Sarah Everard, argues Alex Snowdon
Spy Cops: why is Labour helping the Tories attack our civil liberties?
The Spy Cops bill gives security forces a green light to act with impunity. It should be opposed, argues Terina Hine
Armoured cars and tanks and guns: the real story of the Irish troubles
Chris Bambery looks at the history of the Northern Ireland state - and the violence Britain was prepared to use to maintain it
The SpyCops bill is an attack on us all: it must be resisted
We shouldn’t imagine that we are powerless and have to accept this assault on our civil liberties lying down, argues Shabbir Lakha
Spy cops bill: Starmer helping the Tory assault on civil liberties
Starmer's tacit support for government legislation that will allow undercover police to commit crimes is a dangerous new low, argues Lucy Nichols
New Tory rules on 'anti-capitalist school materials' are an attack on civil liberties
The government's latest regulations are an attempt to hamper political learning and organising in schools, argues Jamal Elaheebocus
Starmer is colluding with Tories to unleash the spy cops - CounterBlast
The Labour Leader is jeopardising civil liberties in his pursuit of approval from the establishment, argues Sean Ledwith
Snowden’s Box: Trust in the Age of Surveillance - book review
The story of Snowden’s whistleblowing reveals the importance of genuinely free journalism, but only mass movements can truly defend civil liberties, argues Peter Stäuber
The revolutionary life and legacy of Malcolm X
On the 95th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birth, Alyssa Cassata looks at his radical life and ideas which continues to inspire millions today
Covid-19, lockdown, and civil liberties
As the crisis continues, we need to make sure that our rights are not permanently eroded, argues Elaine Graham-Leigh
Covid-19, the state and civil liberties: the case of France
In France Macron is rushing through legislation to give enforcement squads enhanced powers to control individual behaviour, reports Susan Ram
The government's attacks on Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are an attack on us all
The government consultation aiming to criminalise the lives of some of Britain's most vulnerable and persecuted groups is disgraceful and must be resisted by us all, writes Norbert Lawrie
Londoners defy the XR ban to defend the right to protest
In defiance of the police ban on Extinction Rebellion protests in London, thousands protested in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday, reports Chris Nineham
Police ban on Extinction Rebellion is an attack on our civil liberties
The threat to our civil liberties from the police banning Extinction Rebellion protests is dangerous and we must resist, argues Sweta Choudhury
What happens to Julian Assange has implications for us all
The arrest of Julian Assange today sets a dangerous precedent, argues Hilary Stephenson
The End of Policing - book review
The End of Policing
exposes the political purposes behind the police, and the damage caused by the modern increase in their coercive power, argues Peter Stäuber
Is Sajid Javid's deprivation of Shamima Begum's citizenship legal?
Looking at the law, it's clear that the Home Office decision to strip Shamima Begum of her citizenship is incorrect, argues Attiq Malik
Revoking Shamima Begum’s citizenship is unjustifiable
Removing Shamima Begum's citizenship is a violation of international and human rights law and would set a dangerous precedent, argues Shabbir Lakha
What's happening in Catalonia is an assault on democracy
As the wave of repression from the Spanish state continues, Catalonia needs our solidarity now more than ever, argues Chris Bambery
Like Mandela, Palestinians are prisoners of an apartheid system
The occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces is not dissimilar to apartheid South Africa, argues Koos Mohammed
Preventing Prevent: Students are not suspects
Students need to unite against the Prevent strategy, which is only meant to spread division, argues Shelly Asquith
The Tories and the suppression of civil society
Recent Tory battles with individual charities add up to an unprecedented attack on civil society, argues Dulcinea Wilkes
David Cameron is making political capital out of carnage
David Cameron describes the threat of terrorism in Britain as an ‘existential threat’. This is preposterous, and he knows it
Counter-extremism or full spectrum idiocy?
The government’s ‘counter-extremism’ crackdown won't reduce the threat, and is more likely to increase marginalization of British Muslims and the alienation that groups like Isis attempt to feed on argues Matt Carr
Magna Carta: a tradition of rebellion
Foundation of British democracy or historical relic? Dominic Alexander looks at how the meaning of Magna Carta has always been shaped by class struggle and rebellion
The force may be with you
Theresa May’s proposed new anti-terror laws further demonise Muslims and threaten the rights of everyone who opposes the government argues Elly Badcock
The Government is blaming Muslims and attacking civil liberties
Opposition to war, Islamophobia and attacks on civil liberties are all connected, says Lindsey German, and we have to campaign against all three
15 recommended articles on the aftermath of the Paris attacks
Alex Snowdon compiles a selection of commentary and analysis about the contentious issues arising from the recent attacks in Paris
The British establishment: demonising Muslims, attacking civil liberties
Lindsey German: Muslims in Britain could be forgiven for thinking that even when they do the right thing, it’s wrong