Liberty - Protecting civil liberties, promoting human rights
75th Birthday wishes
75th Birthday wishes
In 2009 Liberty celebrated our 75th birthday. Here are some of the birthday messages we received from high profile supporters and friends.
Emma Thompson“Human rights are not unlike the rainforest: they're very easy to tear down and they need understanding and protection. We all need the oxygen of Liberty and I wish them a very successful 75th anniversary!”
Tony Benn"The work of Liberty is now even more important than it was when it was founded 75 years ago. The threats to our freedom come increasingly from state authoritarianism which now uses the war on terror as an excuse for doing so. Unless we stand against it we shall lose what we are being told we must defend."
Baroness Shirley Williams“The struggle to defend and indeed to extend our civil liberties never ends. It has to embrace what is unpopular as well as what is popular. The information revolution poses new threats to privacy and individual freedom, the treatment of refugees and immigrants makes our commitment to tolerance and the rule of law unconvincing.
Liberty has been an independent and fearless champion of our freedoms; congratulations on your birthday, you are badly needed now as 75 years ago when my mother was amongst those who set up the NCCL.”
Joanna Lumley“Happy Birthday, Liberty; and may your banner for the rights of all mankind fly forever free."
Sir John Major“The tradition of civil liberties is fundamental to any civilised society, and Liberty has been protecting the rights of the individual since 1934. The battle is far from over. In an over-governed nation it has become fashionable to disregard individual liberties, both great and small. This makes the task of protecting freedom and privacy even more vital. I wish Liberty a very happy 75th birthday.”
Benjamin Zephaniah“Dear Liberty, Sometimes I think you are all we have left. Happy Birthday, and please stay for as long as we need you."
Rachel North“Happy Birthday to Liberty! Now, more than ever, we need you to defend our freedoms and speak truth to power. Thank you for doing just that with such diligence and dignity.”
Zoe Wanamaker“What is life without Liberty? From the hunger marches of the 1930s to the threat of detention without charge, Liberty has been, and is, the UK’s leading civil liberties and human rights campaigning group. Happy birthday and thank you.”
Frank Dobson MP“There are two basic tests for a human rights organisation. First, does it stand up for individuals, groups and principles even when they are unpopular? Second, does it make a good job of putting their case? Liberty passes both tests with flying colours."
Patricia Hewitt MP“I feel very proud to have been the first women’s rights officer of NCCL – as it was then – and then general secretary for nearly ten years. Liberty has been a beacon for human rights in the United Kingdom for an extraordinary 75 years, and our country would be a poorer place without it. Happy Birthday!”
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London“At a time when the government is bent on extinguishing ancient British freedoms, Liberty’s work is more vital than ever. They are the chief safeguards of the flame."
Colin Firth“We are bombarded with a variable menu of national anniversaries, commemorations, exhortations to be proud of Britain. But I find it harder to think of anything more worthy of celebration than the fact that since 1934, in spite of whatever else, somewhere in our country, the struggle to maintain civil liberties has been kept alive. Congratulations to Liberty on 75 years!”
Diane Abbott MP“I am very pleased to say Happy 75th Birthday to Liberty. Over the years the organisation has done some ground-breaking work in the field of civil liberties and human rights. Liberty have been crucial in putting civil liberties issues on the news agenda and at the front of politicians’ minds. I was lucky to work for Liberty back when it was the National Council for Civil Liberties and I look forward to seeing their important work continue.”
Marcus Brigstocke“Happy Birthday Liberty, 75 years of protecting all of us from the hideous ravages of oppression and indignity. Thank you. My birthday wish for Liberty is that every one of you finds yourself out of a job soon because there's not enough to do.”
Nicholas Hytner“With very best wishes on Liberty’s three-quarter century, and congratulations and thanks for its pioneering work in supporting human rights and protecting freedoms."
Shappi Khorsandi“Warmest birthday wishes to Liberty, long may your work continue. Liberty is a vital organization in our society. Protecting human rights is what makes us human beings!”
Patrick Stewart“Happy birthday, Liberty. I toast every one of your 75 years and fervently wish that before you reach your century civil liberties and human rights will be lower on our planets agenda than it is today.”
Francesca Klug"Liberty was born in the fight against fascism and, 75 years on, provided a unique and principled voice against the 'war on terror.' Through all these years Liberty has stayed true to its founding principles whilst embracing the human rights principles that have become the 'lingua franca' of modern liberty struggles throughout the world."
Ken MacDonald QC“After 75 distinguished years, Liberty is in the vanguard of a grand coalition protecting our rights. Happy Birthday!”
David Davis MP“Liberty was created at a time of great pressure on the rights and freedoms of British people, and it has done a sterling job of defending those rights over 75 years. Today, we still find many threats to our freedom, and Britain needs Liberty to be as robust as they were in 1934.”
Honor Blackman“Almost daily, in this country, there are incidents requiring the involvement of Liberty; their work in fighting injustice, upholding principle, censorship and any other causes. The misuse of police powers is a cause of great interest to Liberty and their work will need all our support if, as reported, the Home Secretary proposes to make further huge inroads into our privacy by keeping track of all our calls, texts, e-mails and internet use. If such legislation were to succeed we would, indeed, be a police state.”
David Hare“All best wishes to Liberty – never more effective than now, sadly, because never more needed”
Jan Berry, former Chair of the Police Federation of England & Wales“75 years of guarding our hard fought for freedoms. Happy 75th Birthday Liberty, may you continue to be our social conscience and critical friend; remaining consistent, loyal and honest to your guiding principles.”
Rory Bremner“In the fevered atmosphere post 9/11, it’s more important than ever that there is a robust and respected voice to ensure governments don’t take liberties with our liberty. As Ed Murrow said, we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. Through its eternal vigilance, Liberty is an essential guardian of our freedom. Long may it remain so.”
John Keane“Congratulations and best wishes on 75 years of making a bloody nuisance of yourself in the name of fairness, dignity and democracy. More please."
Baroness Julia Neuberger“Happy Birthday Liberty- where would we be without you. You are as needed now as you ever have been, and your work continues to be the conscience of the nation.”
Terry Jones“Dear Liberty, 75 years of battling for civil liberties is a record to be proud of. Since there seems to be no decrease in the attempts by politicians of all shades to curtail our civil liberties, may you continue to flourish and make your mark. Happy birthday, Terry Jones”
Simon Callow“Many Happy Returns, Liberty; don’t imagine, though, that at your great and distinguished age you can think of retiring from doing what you do so well: keeping an ever-vigilant eye on the all-too-fallible instruments of democracy. We shall need those sharp eyes and that clear voice more urgently that ever in the coming crises."
Andi Osho"Happy Birthday, Liberty! Keep doing what you're doing. Your country needs you."
Charles Dance“Congratulations Liberty on your 75th birthday! I hope you have many more. Love Charles Dance."
Lord Thomas Bingham"Rarely, in the last 75 years, has the vigilance of Liberty been more valuable than it is today. Long may it flourish."
Richard Eyre“Congratulations on your first 75 years. I hope you continue to defend our rights and liberties as long as they need to be defended.”
Ali Smith“Happy 75th birthday to Liberty, vital and venerable – an organisation which combines the wisdom and experience of history with all the raw energy, passion and commitment it takes to meet the challenges to civil liberties, new and old, every day."
Juliet Stevenson"Very happy birthday to Liberty and keep up the great work. You are ever more needed."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg"For 75 years, Liberty has upheld some of the values which should be dearest to our hearts: civil liberties, fundamental rights and human dignity. It has consistently stuck to its principles, however difficult this might have seemed. This was true in the Second World War and it has been true since the advent of the ‘war on terror’. On issues ranging from counter-terrorist legislation, through the detention of child asylum seekers, to the rights of psychiatric patients, those who believe in freedom and fair treatment have been able to count on Liberty.
I wholeheartedly share Liberty’s support for the “post-war human rights consensus”, as its Director has put it, and am immensely grateful for its advocacy, informed lobbying and persistence. If Liberty did not exist, we would certainly need to invent it; I am very glad that, for 75 years, we have not had to."
Miriam Margolyes"I am delighted to wish LIBERTY a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. It’s an extremely important organization, ever more so in these days when both anti-Muslim & anti-Semitic sentiments are widespread. More power to your elbow or wherever you need it. Love, Miriam Margolyes"
Conor Gearty“Liberty is as important to political freedom now as it was in the 1930s when as the National Council for Civil Liberties it pioneered the protection of political protestors from the angry attentions of the state. Seventy-five years on the particular issues may have changed but the underlying issues – concerned with the struggle for freedom, liberty, justice - have remained the same, as has Liberty’s unwavering commitment to securing them."
Lord Johan Steyn“In protecting civil liberties and defending the rule of law, domestic and international, Liberty has for 75 years served our country superbly. The recent episode of the 42 day detention bill in which Liberty played a decisive role shows that the quality and effectiveness of the advice of Liberty is as high as ever. The attempt by the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, supported by Labour backbenchers, to enact the ill-judged and authoritarian bill, was defeated by the calm and reasoned arguments provided to members of the House of Lords by Liberty.”