Civil Liberties Action is a Manchester-based campaigning project being developed around two areas of work: democracy and civil liberties, and drug policy and addiction.
CLA is designed around targeted campaigns rather than a broad political platform. It is not a political party and does not stand candidates for election. The current legal structure is still being developed, and CLA is not presented as a registered charity.
Why I am starting CLA
My interest in addiction and drug policy is personal. I have personal experience of addiction, including periods when it existed alongside work, responsibility and outward signs that life was going well. That has made me conscious of how easily addiction can be reduced to a stereotype, and how much may be hidden behind what other people see.
Personal experience is a starting point, not the evidence base and not a claim to speak for everyone affected. CLA's proposals should be tested through evidence, scrutiny and input from others.
How CLA intends to work
The initial model is founder-led day-to-day work with independent organisational oversight to be developed. Public work will distinguish evidence, analysis, campaign proposals and outcomes, and progress updates will be used to show what has actually been done.