6.5.2025 – as long as rights are

as long as rights are
defended, foundations of
freedom are secure

In an interview by Kingsley Martin, published in the New Statesman on January 7, 1939, Winston Churchill said:

The essential aspects of democracy are the freedom of the individual, within the framework of laws passed by Parliament, to order his life as he pleases, and the uniform enforcement of tribunals independent of the executive.

The laws are based on Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus, the Petition of Right and others.

Without this foundation there can be no freedom or civilisation, anyone being at the mercy of officials and liable to be spied upon and betrayed even in his own home.

As long as these rights are defended, the foundations of freedom are secure.

Mr. Churchill was responding to a question asking if there were any contradictions in a drive to rearm in defense of democracy.

The question was asked as democracy in Great Britain was threatened by the rise of Nazi Germany.

Today we ask the question as the threat is within.

I am not sure that Mr. Churchill could have handled such a thing.

I know I have trouble.

As long as these rights are defended, the foundations of freedom are secure.

Without this foundation there can be no freedom or civilisation, anyone … ANYONE … being at the mercy of officials and liable to be spied upon and betrayed even in his own home.