Shadow minister to warn of legal aid ‘perfect storm’

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lawBy Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Later today, Andy Slaughter MP, the Shadow Justice Minister, will warn of a “perfect storm” in legal aid, which is under threat from coalition cuts. In the speech, Slaughter will predict the closure of most Law Centres in the UK, as well as many Citizens Advice Bureaux which he says are “the last line of defence against catastrophe for …tens of thousands of people”, and attacks the government’s plans as “filled with inaccuracy, imprecision, and outright fallacy”. Slaughter will also point out the false economy of these cuts – legal aid often saves the government money in the long run:

“The Government proposes to eliminate all Legal Aid for those seeking restitution with regards to social welfare in its broadest sense: debt, housing, education, welfare, employment. In doing so they will cut funding for many advisory services, like Citizens Advice Bureaus and Law Centres that have formed the bedrock of advice for decades.”

“The remaining CABs will find their ability to provide services considerably diminished, particularly in areas of the greatest deprivation. The loss of knowledge, talented advisors, and people who provide a high quality service far below the market rate will be irreplaceable.”

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