UK selling out to fascism, says Rumpole author
17 Aug 06
QC's next book to be protest at loss of civil liberties
The author of the Rumpole of the Bailey novels has warned that Britain is in danger of selling out to fascism, due to the government's restrictions on civil liberties.
John Mortimer QC was speaking at the Edinburgh Book Festival where he announced details of his next book.
The work, entitled "Rumpole and the Reign of Terror", will feature the barrister defending a hospital doctor accused of being a terrorist.
Mr Mortimer said that the book was really about "this wonderful government giving away all our civil liberties". He criticised the government for cancelling the Magna Carta, ending trial by jury and reversing the presumption of innocence, all because of terrorism, adding that if you ended up with police being judge and jury, you had sold out to fascism.