Post by nickd on Feb 15, 2012 22:13:26 GMT 1
A lot of midnight oil has been spent debating the reforms
But time is running out - this is a crucial time to get involved!
A lot of things have happened, the economy isn't looking good, the media have focused a lot of attention on bankers bonuses of late, people still are reeling over the way NHS reforms are progressing and frankly welfare reform has become an absolute shambles. But let's not get too distracted by all of this and bear in mind what is upon us. I'm afraid to say our legal system is in imminent danger of changing for ever; it's on a cliff edge and it's beginning to look like social welfare justice for the less well off may well become a thing of the past.
Many have ardently campaigned for changes to the welfare reform bill, but government has shown us all how it wants to oppose sensible amendments. Most of would agree some reform is needed, but the scale of current legislative changes are all set to make a right dog's breakfast out of reforming the welfare state. It's been too rushed, ill planned and based on making financial savings at any cost. I am genuinely fearful over how the blind ignorance which has gone into the construction of this welfare reform bill will become all too apparent only once it is too late. Government has hood winked a gullible public into thinking everyone on benefits is on the fiddle, they've made a complete enemy of the disabled and sadly it is the genuine who will really suffer. It's madness, absolute madness to try and fool people over welfare reform, it won't be 'simplified' any time soon and nor will it deliver any financial savings by the end of this parliamentary term, or the next and probably not by the end of a third term. I genuinely believe it will be a total disaster if it is implemented with no regard to its practical application. Taking aware all avenues of specialist help for people to be able to rectify problems just lacks all comprehension.
Welfare campaigners would do well to get firmly behind those vehemently opposing the legal aid, sentencing and punishment of offender's bill as it steers it's way through the report stages in the House of Lords on the 5,7, 12 and 14 March 2012. This is the time to really up the campaign over the next 3 to 4 weeks by continued lobbying of the Lords and also MP's as the bill is bound to head back their way soon afterwards.
Legal aid is crucial to CAB and law centres, it's what enables them to provide access to paid specialist caseworkers. Once legal aid disappears in the area of welfare benefits (among other categories such as debt, housing and employment) it will mark the point where clients simply will not be able to get any constructive help with their benefit appeals.
It is crucial that legal aid stays. Welfare reform is often badly executed, it has been before and it will be again. What sorts out poor reform is the process of judicial challenge. It is the work of the tribunals to oversee reforms; it's where poor law is challenged and amended by the people who work with it day in and day out. Upper Tribunals are often the only place where precedent is set so that the lower courts can follow better legal interpretation ; - legal aid has a crucial role to play in all of this, not just now but for many years to come. The role of the social security judiciary will become pointless if appellants turn up at their appeals without any understanding of the legal issues at stake; - it's very often where the Secretary of State gets it so badly wrong.
With no legal aid...
....Social welfare justice will be inaccessible.
Everyone who stands to be affected by social injustice should be joining us right now!
See links..
services.parliament.uk/bills/2010....ers/stages.html
Read more: ilegal.org.uk/index.cgi?action=display&board=lords&thread=4438&page=1#13375#ixzz1mUJSzw9X