Post by nickd on Jun 11, 2012 22:18:17 GMT 1
Spartacus Corner
A place to meet on a point of welfare benefit law
Both Spartacus and social welfare welfare legal aid specialists fought a long valiant battle to try and get Government to act responsibly in their reform of welfare and legal aid. We both achieved exceptional results in the House of Lords' but Government proceeded to overturn some commendable amendments by exercising 'financial privilege' when the bill returned to the House of Commons. I think all of us would agree that government has not acted sensibly and has enacted both the welfare reform act and legal aid, sentencing & punishment of offender's act in a far from pristine state.
What is clear is welfare reforms will flag up many legal problems which require legal solutions & regulatory reform. These can only be identified by hearing from those who find themselves in situations where they are unclear over the best way of advancing cases. We can't promise to solve cases on a one to one basis but we will do all we can to see what the emerging issues are; this helps us in our argument as to where concessions need to be made on re-instating access to justice for people facing appeal cases where legal aid reforms stop people getting the help they really need.
This idea is in its infancy and I therefore welcome any ideas on how you would like to see this develop. I have a few ideas up my sleeve but at this stage I would really like to hear your views so we can move it forward in a way which helps you as much as it hopefully helps us.
So please feel free to let me know your ideas folks, I really look forward to hearing them!
Thank you; so please have your say...