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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 7:49:03 GMT 1
This was how the day the Justice Bill was published went...
Well folks it looks like today will be the day when the Legal Aid and sentencing bill gets announced and quite possibly published.
There's different views on exactly what we will hear, so I guess it's a question of let's just wait and see what transpires.
The merging of the sentencing part of the bill with that of legal aid is likely to mean that far more prominence is given to the former, rather than the later, I can't help but feel legal aid has been tagged on the back.
Being realistic, I doubt whether government are going to announce any concessions at all, perhaps some with regard to the definitions of domestic violence which will have some impact upon family matters, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a surprise concession on clinical negligence legal aid; - we shall see.
There may be some mutterings of 'promises' to look further into the issue of advice sector funding, but given how the legal aid minister has already made it clear that he thinks all us specialists do is 'provide basic mechanical advice', I don't expect they'll be any recognition of our specialism.
It's a grim day when central government can't see our worth in the area of social welfare law.
Government's plans are a right mess and represent bungled reform, they've shown no sign of listening to almost 5,000 learned responses, many prepared with care, many prepared by authoritative representative views of the people who know what they're talking about, including the judiciary.
Ken Clarke bungled the sentencing part of the bill and it looks like a hurried repair has been carried out, such repairs often fall apart very quickly.
Planning so called 'Big Societies' whilst dismantling the Community Legal Service is to say the least socially regressive; - it's also absurd.
For those who've not joined in the fight, for goodness sake join now. This is only a pre-requisite to the second reading of the bill. These dangerous and downright illogical reforms have yet to become legislation, as well as go through the House of Lord's.
So brace yourself folks, and prepare to do battle on a major scale. To those of you who say not enough of our case has been made known, ask yourself how much you and your colleagues have done, this is time to show we're all in it together, together being our best way of showing government that what they are doing is utter lunacy.
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 9:55:18 GMT 1
It looks like there's been an amendment to Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Bill: (Notices of Amendments given up to and including 20 June 2011) according to an Email alert from UK Parliament, can't see what it is as of yet as their link doesn't work!
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 10:03:42 GMT 1
Announcement in Telegraph Ken Clarke denies scrapping jail plan is U-turn Kenneth Clarke has claimed the scrapping of plans to let criminals who plead guilty have their sentences halved is "not a U-turn". Kenneth Clarke has been ordered to scrap plans to let criminals who plead guilty have their sentences halved Photo: PAUL GROVERBy Andrew Porter, Tom Whitehead and Andy Bloxham 9:11AM BST 21 Jun 2011 Comment Hours before a news conference at which the Prime Minister will announce the plans have been dropped, Mr Clarke insisted the move was merely part of "radical reform" of the justice system. He said: "Later this morning the Prime Minister and I will be announcing our response to the consultation. "We have changed parts of it, on legal aid and sentencing. It's not another u-turn, it's a perfectly balanced package of radical reform that is necessary." Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said scrapping the 50 per cent jail discount was "yet another example of this government not being in touch with people". The press conference is part of an attempt to regain the Tories’ reputation for being tough on law and order. Did Clarke say balanced?  www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8588554/Ken-Clarke-denies-scrapping-jail-plan-is-U-turn.html |
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 10:14:28 GMT 1
Questions over Clarke's future.... Will The Justice Secretary Quit The Cabinet? Comments9:58am UK, Tuesday June 21, 2011 Sophy Ridge, political correspondent It has been a painfully personal humiliation for Justice Secretary Ken Clarke. Will Mr Clarke stay in the Cabinet? Or choose to leave? His Sentencing Bill has been torn up and pieced back together, with expected U-turns on his proposals for sentence discounts, knife crime and indeterminate sentences. Now David Cameron is very firmly - and very publicly - taking control of the policy. The Prime Minister is holding a news conference - before the Bill is published and before Mr Clarke has had a chance to make a statement. The message couldn’t be clearer: the Prime Minister is taking the reins. So the next question is, what will happen to Ken Clarke? Westminster is abuzz with speculation that the U-turn increases the chance of an early exit but David Cameron is reluctant to juggle his Cabinet and has previously ruled out a reshuffle. Of course, the 70-year-old Mr Clarke could decide he has had enough and step down. However, he’s famously thick-skinned and has been in politics too long to be surprised by the furore. If Ken Clarke isn’t sacked and doesn’t resign, his only option is to limber on. The Prime Minister is unlikely to have a Cabinet reshuffle In other words, he’ll join the ranks of Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman - still in post but politically neutered after being forced into embarrassing and damaging U-turns. Murmurings of discontent are spreading that the Prime Minister is very quick to demand that ministers make difficult and deep cuts to their budgets - but equally speedy to punish them when the savings prove unpopular with the public. Ken Clarke was one of the fastest out of the blocks with 20% cuts to his budget over four years thanks to plans to reduce the prison population by 3,000 by the next election. His allies say he is now being punished for this. Now the big question is how he will plug the £130m hole left by the U-turn over plans for 50% sentence discounts. It is not a huge sum in political terms, but the Ministry of Justice’s relatively small budget is already overstretched. With £350m of controversial cuts already planned for legal aid, it’s difficult to see how he could make further reductions there. Now speculation is growing that Mr Clarke will introduce further cuts to the courts and the probation service to balance his budget. As covered by Sky news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Ken-Clarke-What-Next-For-The-Justice-Secretary-As-David-Cameron-Takes-Control-Of-His-Policy/Article/201106316015890?lpos=Politics_First_Poilitics_Article_Teaser_Regi_1&lid=ARTICLE_16015890_Ken_Clarke%3A_What_Next_For_The_Justice_Secretary_As_David_Cameron_Takes_Control_Of_His_Policy |
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 10:28:38 GMT 1
Latest word from planet Ilegal... Good link Chrisb, and welcome to ilegal. Yes, it's down as LEGAL AID, SENTENCING AND PUNISHMENT OF OFFENDERS Bill - LASAPO it is First reading 3.30pm approx. States: Secretary Kenneth Clarke Bill to make provision about legal aid; to make further provision about funding legal services; to make provision about costs and other amounts awarded in civil and criminal proceedings; to make provision about sentencing offenders, including provision about release on licence or otherwise; to make provision about bail and about remand otherwise than on bail; to make provision about the employment, payment and transfer of persons detained in prisons and other institutions; to make provision about penalty notices for disorderly behaviour and cautions; and to create new offences of threatening with a weapon in public or on school premises. Formal first reading: no debate or decision. Read more: ilegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=reformnews&action=display&thread=3040&page=2#ixzz1Ptvh7oRZ |
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 10:50:28 GMT 1
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 11:04:16 GMT 1
Cameron shortly coming on BBC24, Clarke just said it's not a U turn. Cameron will be speaking on legal aid. Tune in, it's all happening!
Clarke says not a u turn; - it's a 'consultation'.
It's getting a lot of media attention, more so the sentencing part, legal aid seems very secondary at the moment.
As a result of this fiasco, another £130 million needs to be found. Question is where from?
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 11:30:28 GMT 1
Cameron says protecting the public is key and rehabilitation is key to justice reforms.
Tough package to fight crime; particularly knife crime
Squatters criminalised
Homeowners who protect their property will be protected so long as they use reasonable force
50% reduction in jail term not right for early guilty pleas; - too lenient
Greater number of life sentences
Payment by result schemes for rehabilitation
Legislation in Autumn
More savings will be made from Ministry of Justice
Non negotiable red line for Cameron and his Government
Public confidence not a side issue; the issue.
No word of legal aid in his speech
Needless to say our justice system is 'broken'; - (just as it is with everything introduced since oh let's see...1997)
Then spoke to reporters
Car salesman like spin, very little mention on legal aid. £8 billion MOJ bill needs 'efficiency savings'. Police do a fantastic job, but civilians could do more 'front office'.
Ken and I have had very good discussions - how sweet!
Tried to protect Clarke
Put over a Tory get tough on crime
Big plans to reduce 'legal aid cost' - very quickly smoothed over
Answered questions on immigration, made references to drugs being rife
Cameron turned some of into a joke after a decidedly nervous start, he looked far more at ease as he moved on to talking about Greece.
1% of children in care yet 30% account for those in prison; doesn't go back on what he said about 'hug a hoodie'. Family values are key
Doesn't want to re-live monty python sketch, says 10 days to reconsider reforms (talking about NHS) a long time.
Not about to announce 'chain gangs', but community service orders should have an element of punishment.
Kept talking about a 'new government'. Mr Cameron.......you've been in over a year now.
Questions ended at 12.03 - Nothing on Legal Aid folks. He had to go, he had a lunch to go to!!
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 13:18:18 GMT 1
The Bill is out and published; it was apparently released prematurely and then withdrawn. You can have a browse of it on Ilegal, I think the next we'll hear is a speech by Ken Clarke at 3.30.
It's as we expected, welfare benefits is excluded. The extent of the damage on debt and housing is not fully understood yet; - whatever it is don't expect it to be good news.
One things I have noted is that if you are facing repossession you can get help but not in a bankruptcy if you petitioned yourself.
Seems it's not just war on welfare, but war on anyone facing a personal debt crisis.
Gear up for a war in the Lords; - perhaps in there, someone talks sense.
No official announcements from any of the big bodies like Shelter, Citizens Advice as of yet.
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Post by nickd on Jun 21, 2011 13:51:44 GMT 1
Whilst we all contemplate our futures, you may like to know that Cameron and his wife are hosting a birthday celebration for the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen. Apparently, for starters they're having watercress sandwiches. I suspect main course will be somewhat more appetizing.
One can just imagine David and his after dinner jokes...
'Oh her Majesty, I've dealt those nasty nasty criminals a cruel blow, got them relegated to the slammer for a goodly length of time and what's more if the blighters ever see day light, they'll not be able to get any help from anyone with those blessed benefits, they'll have to get a job and keep it because there's no chance anymore of that awful redress against employers, isn't that good Your Majesty, there's more, do you want to hear.....?
.......Oh Philip it's time to go, Cameron call me a CAB
Sorry Maarm.....
..........They're all closed!
_________________________________
Oh Here's the article...
..David and Samantha Cameron are to play host to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister and his wife will be holding a lunch at Number 10 to celebrate Philip's recent 90th birthday.
Mr Cameron spoke of the country's gratitude for Philip's work earlier this month, before the Duke became a nonagenarian on June 10.
The Prime Minister described the royal as a "remarkable man who has given years of his service to our country, someone who has defended his nation in time of war, a man who has stood alongside Her Majesty the Queen for over six decades, a man who has given his time and effort and passion to so many great causes up and down the country, across the Commonwealth and indeed the world".
...
The nightmare continues....
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Post by nickd on Jun 22, 2011 0:00:18 GMT 1
Well, there was nothing in today's announcement which came as a surprise. If anything it's probably woken a few people up to what's going down the pan here.
However, we don't give up. It's not had the second reading debate yet and there's a lot of holes which can be drilled in these daft reforms. I've had a look at the bill and there's room for argument, most probably in the Lords.
I'm sure we're all thinking about (to use a legal term) 'the next step'. You can be absolutely assured that we'll give it our best, but ultimately it's down to all of us to take an active part in this.
On Ilegal today, there were over 4500 hits on the post about the announcement. So you're all out there and concerned about it, but whilst it's all well and good exchanging views with those who probably don't need convincing, the bigger task is to sell this to the public and as many MP's as possible.
The debate at 3.30 with Ken Clarke gave me some hope, it gave legal aid a good airing and recognised the CAB needed funding. It's no where near enough but there were MP's on all sides today challenging these reforms and many of them pushed the case to protect our advice agencies. Bolton and Manchester and a few others got a good mention.
I was also pleased to see our local MP had joined the debate; - she asked a question on clinical negligence. Not quite the one I wanted her to ask, but to be fair they only get a few minutes and are limited to one question.
There's hope here, we've just got to all get on board.
When a ship springs a leak you can plug the damage and bail her out, jump overboard and swim for dry land or sit there and do nothing. Choose the last one and you know what happens.
Let's get with this.
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