The internationally renowned civil rights barrister Michael Mansfield, KC, discusses his new book and shows us how the power to change the world is in the hands of people, not the people in power.

Barrister Michael Mansfield, KC, has spent his career fighting injustice, persecution and corruption. And be it the Birmingham Six, Bloody Sunday, Stephen Lawrence, the Marchioness, Hillsborough or Grenfell, he has come to learn one thing - that people power is unstoppable.

Time and again he has witnessed governments, police forces, legal institutions and the establishment, try to block change and maintain the status quo in order to protect their interests. But almost every time he has seen that passion, perseverance, collectivity and courage create a powerful momentum which is increasingly difficult to stop.

In The Power in the People, the veteran barrister draws upon his 50 years of fighting for justice and revisits his most important cases and clients, proving without doubt that when people get together they can make lasting and positive change. The power is in the people - not the people in power.

Book Michael Mansfield KC - The Power In The People
Sun 12 May, 4.30pm

Michael Mansfield, KC, was called to the bar in 1967 and became Queens Counsel in 1989. Passionate about civil liberties and overturning miscarriages of justice he represented clients from the Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4 and the Tottenham 3. He has fought for the Orgreave miners and for the families of victims of Bloody Sunday, Hillsborough, the Marchioness, Lockerbie and Grenfell, as well as for the parents of Stephen Lawrence.

Following the tragic death of his daughter by suicide in 2015, he and his wife, Yvette, set up the charity SOS to campaign for the provision of mental health support and suicide awareness.

He has published several books including his autobiography, Memoirs of a Radical Lawyer (Bloomsbury, 2009). In 2017 Michael celebrated 50 years at the bar, but shows no sign of retiring, in fact he recently launched a podcast Two Heads with fellow barrister Lorna Hackett. He lives with Yvette near Stratford On Avon, Warwickshire.

The Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival is generously supported by Arts Council England (ACE), Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, Maxipay Accounting Services, and Berry and Lamberts Solicitors.