The Putney Debates

In a series of debates with Oliver Cromwell in Civil War England of 1647, the Levellers argued for democracy for the first time in British history.

Evolving from Oliver Cromwell’s New Model army in Parliament’s struggle against King Charles I, the Levellers pushed for the removal of corruption in parliament, universal voting rights and religious toleration. This came to a head with the famous debates between the Levellers and Cromwell at St Mary's church in Putney, London. Renowned human-rights lawyer and author Geoffrey Robertson argues for the relevance of the Levellers' stand today, showing how they were the first Western radical democrats.

Evolving from Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army in Parliament’s struggle against King Charles I, the Levellers pushed for the removal of corruption in parliament, universal voting rights and religious toleration.

Philip Baker is a Senior Research Officer at the Centre for Metropolitan History. He has published a number of articles on the social and economic history of early modern London.

Geoffrey Robinson QC is founder and head of Doughty Street Chambers. He is the author of many books, including Crimes Against Humanity: The Struggle for Global Justice and The Tyrannicide Brief. He is a Visiting Professor in Human Rights Law at Birkbeck College and Queen Mary, University of London.