Clive Stafford Smith

Clive Stafford Smith, Gresham Professor of Law and founder of the Justice League, discusses the importance of instilling constitutional awareness in students. He emphasizes the role of schools in nurturing debate about rights and duties. Topics include the use of mock trials to engage students with historical injustices and contemporary issues like bullying and free speech. Stafford Smith shares his experiences confronting racial tensions in the Deep South, while advocating for student voices in governance against institutional authority.

Clive Stafford Smith, a renowned human rights lawyer and Gresham Professor of Law, dives into the complexities of Britain's constitutional framework. He discusses the historical roots and resilience of the American system, particularly its checks and balances against populism. Comparisons between the UK and US highlight the challenges of governance and the role of the judiciary. Smith advocates for constitutional reform, emphasizing the necessity of protecting individual rights amid rising populist pressures, and suggests that a new constitutional convention could help remedy current deficiencies.