Lawyer and Islington Cllr gets on bike to back death row inmates

Civil rights lawyer and councillor Greg Foxsmith is getting on his bike to raise cash for a charity providing aid for death row inmates and suspected terrorists.

On Sunday Cllr Foxsmith is joining the London to Brighton Cycle Race of about 55 miles to fundraise for Reprieve.

He said: “I believe in fairness and freedom, and as a legal aid lawyer have strived to help people protect their rights.

“As a believer in open justice, I fundamentally opposed the Crime and Security Bill which earlier this year introduced ‘secret courts’.” He added: “During the campaign, I was struck by the excellent campaigning work on this issue by Reprieve, a charity I have long admired for excellent campaigns on justice and death row cases.”

Matt Leidecker, from Reprieve, said: “We are a bunch of ninja lawyers fighting for prisoners facing the death penalty and subject to illegal detention around the world, but we wouldn’t be able to do this work without the support of people like Greg. We are a small organisation, punching well above our weight, so all donations really do make a huge difference to our clients.”

n To sponsor Cllr Foxsmith, visit www.doitforcharity.com/GFoxsmith