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The Liberal Democrat spring conference yesterday passed an Access to Justice motion, calling for the legal aid system to be protected.
Party members at the busy conference voted in a motion calling for more consideration of reform to legal aid, prompted by widespread concerns about the current Government plans.
Justice for All is delighted that the coalition partners have pledged their support to access to justice for the most vulnerable.
Commenting, Co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities, Tom Brake said:
“Today Liberal Democrats reasserted the belief that a properly funded legal aid system where access to justice is not denied to those who can’t afford it is the mark of a civilised and democratic society.
“We want to ensure that the potential impacts of cuts are fully assessed before they are introduced, the legal aid budget doesn’t bear costs which should fall elsewhere in the system.”
The motion recognises that access to justice is “an essential component” of the human and civil rights, as recognised by the European Convention on Human Rights.
It calls for “full consideration, assessments and trials … as to any proposed changes or reductions before they are introduced”, specifially looking at addressing adminstrative costs of the justice system and alternative funding methods.
Read Tom Brake's comments in full.
Read full text of the Liberal Democrat Access to Justice motion