Photograph by Steve Punter
Government plans to cut £220 million from the annual legal aid budget in England and Wales by putting contracts out to tender has come under fire from barristers who say it promoted the “lowest possible quality of service”.
The government claims that the cuts would not affect the right of a defendant to a fair trial, and lawyers would have t meet quality standards, but barristers warn that price rather than quality would define justice.
Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar, said:
“Such dramatic changes to the justice system, including extensive cuts to civil and criminal legal aid, will result in irreversible damage to our justice system. We are moving towards a system where price, rather than quality, dictates the type of justice which is available to the British public. We believe in equal justice for all.”