A twelve-year-old schoolchild was arrested at his school and questioned by an antiterrorist police squad, because he was organising a picket of the offices of his member of parliament, who happened to be the current prime minister of Great Britain. He was protesting against the closure of a youth club. Starting with this absurd example of overzealous antiterrorist legislation, Kerr, who has a nose for both the absurd and the shocking, develops his concerning arguments about the gradual erosion of our human rights, particularly in Great Britain and the United States.

He backs up his arguments with plenty of examples, including legislation introduced under the American presidents since Reagan, including Barack Obama. He also examines the various philosophical movements that have either enhanced or undermined human rights, and he never loses sight of the social and political forces in play.

This is essential reading for anyone interested in these disturbing developments in the fundamental law of our countries.

Reviews

"Are British human rights laws increasingly following American ones? Kerr's provocative analysis may be impassioned but it's also detailed, as he uses the example of a 12-year-old boy who organised a protest against the closure of his local youth club and found the anti-terrorist branch of the local police bearing down on him." — Lesley McDowell, The Herald Scotland

Vagabond Voices acknowledges the funding provided by Creative Scotland towards the publication of this book.