Campaigning barrister to be new Liberty director

Liberty, the civil liberties and human rights pressure group, has announced the appointment of campaigner and barrister Martha Spurrier as its new director.

Ms Spurrier, who succeeds Shami Chakrabarti who recently stepped down as director, joins Liberty from Doughty Street Chambers, where she has specialised in defending access to justice and the rights of women, children and disabled people.

As a barrister, she has acted for bereaved families whose loved ones died in state care, represented victims of rape, domestic violence and trafficking who have been failed by the police, and challenged attempts to curb press freedom and protest rights. She was previously a lawyer at mental health charity Mind, and the Public Law Project, where she led a groundbreaking access to justice project. She has written widely on civil liberties and recently ran a high-profile campaign on the importance of the Human Rights Act in protecting ordinary people and their families.

Responding to her appointment Ms Spurrier said: "It’s a huge privilege to join an organisation I’ve admired and supported for so long. Liberty is a dynamic, dauntless and unshakably principled force in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms. It has been fearlessly confronting state power for more than eight decades – and its work is needed now more than ever.

“In this fast-paced, complex, digital world the battle to defend our human rights faces new frontiers. Liberty must continue to shine a light on abuses of power and protect equality, dignity and fairness in our society. I look forward to joining Liberty’s formidable staff and members to take on these challenges in the pivotal months and years to come.”

Frances Butler, chair of Liberty, commented: “Martha Spurrier shone out in a competitive field as our unanimous choice to lead Liberty into the next phase of its proud history.

“She is a compelling and fearless campaigner with energy, gravitas, a first-class mind and a quick wit. We are confident that, under Martha’s leadership, Liberty will continue to vigorously and successfully champion all our rights and freedoms.”

Ms Chakrabarti added: “I am proud to be succeeded by such a brilliant young barrister – a woman so capable of taking her advocacy from our highest courts to the nation's hearts.

“With so many threats to refugee protection, online privacy and even our Human Rights Act, Liberty was never more needed, nor its leadership ever in better hands."