Alistair Webster hits out at attack on legal aid.

at the Justice Alliance rally at Westminster on 7th June, Alistair was one of the speakers.  Here is the text of his speech:

“Paul Harris and Nigel Lithman have reminded us of why we are here.  I want to talk about what we need to do.

The justice system has been badly let down by the political system.

First, we have a minister who started form a position of profound ignorance and appears to remain in that state.

 – Who won’t engage with our representative bodies;
 – Who won’t listen to any independent advice.

He is advised by a ministry of proven, serial incompetence, whose figures are wrong time and again and which does not seem interested in examining any alternatives.

And then the parliamentarians: apart form a few honourable exceptions, they have been spineless.  Full of warm words, but no action.

When Lord Carlile promoted a debate in the Lords, on the VHCC scheme, Labour peers would not support a vote against it.

Two years ago, the LibDems overwhelmingly passed a motion which would not allow these cuts to take place.  Having seen the consultation paper, the policy was overwhelmingly endorsed, despite the minister, Tom McNally, speaking against it.  And what have our ministers done?  They have ignored it.  It is shameful.

We all recognise the pressures on the public finances and we have therefore provided alternatives: they have simply been ignored.

Grayling thinks that he has a free hit.  We must make him realise that he will sustain real political damage if he proceeds: that the costs outweigh the benefits.

– That’s why today is so important.
– That’s why the bar’s policy of no returns is so important.
– That’s why my chambers will support solicitors if they refuse work after 23rd March.
– That’s why we will support a refusal to accept cases under a reduced fee system, just as we have with VHCCs.
Grayling has done the impossible: he has produced unity in the profession.
– The time of division is past.
– The high street solicitors have forced the Law Society, finally,  to think of their interests: they are to be congratulated.

We must stick to our guns.  For too long, the goodwill of the profession has been abused.

Mr. Grayling: you have lost our goodwill and our trust.  If you don’t care about justice, we do.

You have a last chance to avoid going down as the worst Lord Chancellor since the 19th century.  Unless you do change, go down you will.  United and firm, we will defeat you.

The politicians may have failed Justice.  We, the profession and the people, will not.”

The barristers at Lincoln House Chambers support the CBA’s action in defence of Legal Aid.  This will lead to disruptions in the Courts.  We take this action with huge regrets, but the vandalisation of the criminal justice system upon which the present government is embarked has to be resisted.