MP to prevent 'cuts in legal help'

A Bolton MP is the latest person to support a campaign that is fighting government cuts to legal services.

Yasmin Qureshi wants free legal advice to still be available to people, despite changes to the service as a result of cutbacks.

"Cuts to legal aid, through restrictions in scope and eligibility and a cut in the fee paid to providers of legal services, will having a detrimental effect on access to justice," Ms Qureshi said.

She is now supporting the Justice For All campaign, which aims to show how important free, independent legal representation and advice are.

The government's proposals have come under fire for preventing people obtaining free legal advice for cases involving welfare benefits, divorce, employment issues, immigration, school excursions, personal injury and clinical negligence.

Others, such as personal injury lawyers, union members and the Citizens Advice Bureau, are also supporting the campaign.

 Rachel Maskell, a national officer for the union Unite, said that the government's cuts were "savage" and they would have a detrimental effect on Britain's "most vulnerable citizens".

Published by Phil Hammond