Post by Patrick Torsney on Jun 26, 2011 19:15:27 GMT 1
I live in London. SE1 to be more precise. Below, I have reproduced an email that I sent to my local Member of Parliament, Simon Hughes (MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark) back in May. I haven't had any response as yet but I appreciate that the time of local MPs is precious and the debate, as it is, on legal aid funding for the most vulnerable members of our community seems to be a little overshadowed
I am going to contact Mr Hughes again and will update this thread when I do. In the meantime, here was the short email that I sent to Simon on 10th May 2011:
Dear Mr Hughes
I am one of your constituents, living for the last 6 years on Gainsford street SE1 (full address in the footer). I have a particular interest in legal aid as I run the largest open online forum for civil legal aid professionals in the UK: ilegal.org.uk. Much of my work is with the not-for-profit sector, Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres and independent advice agencies.
I am aware that one of your colleagues. Julian Huppert MP has secured a Westminster Hall debate tomorrow at 2.30pm on Government proposals for the reform of legal aid, and I just wanted to ask whether you were attending? Also, what your position was in respect of the proposed legal aid reforms?
As someone who has worked in the legal advice sector for approximately 23 years, I see the reform proposals as really quite horrific, particularly in respect of ‘Social Welfare Law’ (issues concerned with Benefits, Debts, Housing and Employment) and am very concerned about the impact of removing access to justice for the poorest of our community and the inevitable problems this will cause.
Earlier this week I produced a short briefing on legal aid for MPs, councillors, journalists and others interested in what it is exactly the Government proposes. I am told that this has now been circulated to all MPs and Peers electronically via the APPG on Legal Aid. However, if you have been unable to read the document, I have attached it again here for your information.
I look forward to hearing from you and would be happy to discuss any of the issues arising in more detail whenever convenient.
Kind regards
Patrick
The attachment sent with this email can be downloaded here:
downloads.ilegal.org.uk/shush.pdf
I am going to contact Mr Hughes again and will update this thread when I do. In the meantime, here was the short email that I sent to Simon on 10th May 2011:
Dear Mr Hughes
I am one of your constituents, living for the last 6 years on Gainsford street SE1 (full address in the footer). I have a particular interest in legal aid as I run the largest open online forum for civil legal aid professionals in the UK: ilegal.org.uk. Much of my work is with the not-for-profit sector, Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres and independent advice agencies.
I am aware that one of your colleagues. Julian Huppert MP has secured a Westminster Hall debate tomorrow at 2.30pm on Government proposals for the reform of legal aid, and I just wanted to ask whether you were attending? Also, what your position was in respect of the proposed legal aid reforms?
As someone who has worked in the legal advice sector for approximately 23 years, I see the reform proposals as really quite horrific, particularly in respect of ‘Social Welfare Law’ (issues concerned with Benefits, Debts, Housing and Employment) and am very concerned about the impact of removing access to justice for the poorest of our community and the inevitable problems this will cause.
Earlier this week I produced a short briefing on legal aid for MPs, councillors, journalists and others interested in what it is exactly the Government proposes. I am told that this has now been circulated to all MPs and Peers electronically via the APPG on Legal Aid. However, if you have been unable to read the document, I have attached it again here for your information.
I look forward to hearing from you and would be happy to discuss any of the issues arising in more detail whenever convenient.
Kind regards
Patrick
The attachment sent with this email can be downloaded here:
downloads.ilegal.org.uk/shush.pdf
