All parties unite against social welfare cuts

[jman]

Here's some covergage showing how there's cross - party support for keeping essential social welfare legal aid. It shows how the Tories, Liberal Democrates and Labour and Coventry Council are all united in their battle against legal aid cuts

COVENTRY City Council has united in protest against government plans to cut free legal help for thousands of people in crisis.

Tory, Lib Dem and Socialist councillors formally backed the ruling Labour group’s call yesterday to support a growing campaign against drastic cuts to Legal Aid – set up in 1949 to provide justice for all regardless of people’s incomes.

They united behind a motion moved by Labour councillor Phil Townshend, which stated the cuts “will seriously curtail access to justice” for Coventry people.

MPs are today set to debate the plans in a second reading of Tory justice secretary Ken Clarke’s Legal Aid Bill – and the council’s opposition will be communicated to him.

As we have reported, £350m of cuts to the £2bn Legal Aid budget would end free advice and legal representation in court and tribunals for people who cannot afford solicitors’ fees.

Coventry Law Centre and the Citizens Advice Bureau say it will hit vulnerable people caught up in disputes with the government, businesses or more powerful family members, and centres could close.

The thousands they help each year include people fighting unfair dismissal at work or the loss of their home, child custody battles in divorce cases, clinical negligence cases where hospitals may have botched treatment, appeals over a child’s schooling, and the refusal of rightful benefits for workers made disabled.

Read More www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2011/06/29/coventry-city-council-in-cross-party-fight-against-legal-aid-cuts-92746-28962380/#ixzz1Qjva0Yoy

www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2011/06/29/coventry-city-council-in-cross-party-fight-against-legal-aid-cuts-92746-28962380/

[nickd]

It's very clear Jman that of those who follow thie sensible part of the debate, all parties are completely against the removal of essential support for those with a social welfare problem.

There was almighty support in the House of Commons yesterday for ensuring social welfare law remains protected, let's keep us this positive message.

Let's find as many examples of cross party support as we can.

There were only two who stuck to the guns on cutting legal aid for those with a critical social welfare law problem, we know who they are and this morning they'll have a hangover wondering how they are going to put right the tide of opposition which exists against these cuts.

The main media will of course put a different tinge on it, but it's clear at local level what the feeling is.