Post by jman on Sept 17, 2011 15:16:05 GMT 1
Article on "Political Scrapbook"
"Lib Dem lawyers: cuts will leave legal system “skeleton and third rate”10:49am Sat September
Facing a raft of party conference motions criticising coalition policies, further embarrassment was heaped on Nick Clegg today as a group of Liberal Democrat lawyers broke ranks to slam cuts to Legal Aid.
The blow comes as The Guardian reveals that the Conservative minister piloting the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill is likely to profit personally from the legislation.
In an open letter published below, the chair of the Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association, top QC Alistair Webster, attacks sweeping changes which remove Legal Aid from areas of real need and scraps the right to choose your own lawyer.
“The Legal Aid provisions of the Bill currently before Parliament ignore every aspect of the Party’s policy. For all those who voted for the policy, this is completely unacceptable and must be fought, both in the autumn Party Conference and in Parliament.”
“If the true aim is to leave a skeleton and third rate public legal system, the government should make that clear and we can judge it accordingly … I, for one, do not wish to be ashamed of the Party which I have supported since its foundation. This Bill is dire.”........................................"
politicalscrapbook.net/2011/09/lib-dem-lawyers-slam-cuts/
"Lib Dem lawyers: cuts will leave legal system “skeleton and third rate”10:49am Sat September
Facing a raft of party conference motions criticising coalition policies, further embarrassment was heaped on Nick Clegg today as a group of Liberal Democrat lawyers broke ranks to slam cuts to Legal Aid.
The blow comes as The Guardian reveals that the Conservative minister piloting the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill is likely to profit personally from the legislation.
In an open letter published below, the chair of the Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association, top QC Alistair Webster, attacks sweeping changes which remove Legal Aid from areas of real need and scraps the right to choose your own lawyer.
“The Legal Aid provisions of the Bill currently before Parliament ignore every aspect of the Party’s policy. For all those who voted for the policy, this is completely unacceptable and must be fought, both in the autumn Party Conference and in Parliament.”
“If the true aim is to leave a skeleton and third rate public legal system, the government should make that clear and we can judge it accordingly … I, for one, do not wish to be ashamed of the Party which I have supported since its foundation. This Bill is dire.”........................................"
politicalscrapbook.net/2011/09/lib-dem-lawyers-slam-cuts/