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Legal aid cuts: Lawyers' boycott called off amid signs of agreement with Michael Gove Legal aid cuts: Lawyers' boycott called off amid signs of agreement with Michael Gove
(1 day later)
The unofficial strike by thousands of criminal solicitors and barristers in protest over cuts to legal aid has been suspended amid signs they could be edging towards agreement with the Justice Secretary, Michael Gove.The unofficial strike by thousands of criminal solicitors and barristers in protest over cuts to legal aid has been suspended amid signs they could be edging towards agreement with the Justice Secretary, Michael Gove.
Solicitors launched the action on 1 July in response to a second 8.75 per cent cut in legal aid fees by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).Solicitors launched the action on 1 July in response to a second 8.75 per cent cut in legal aid fees by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
They had been boycotting new cases, forcing some defendants to appear without legal representation, including two men accused of murdering a pensioner who had to represent themselves in court in Sheffield last week.They had been boycotting new cases, forcing some defendants to appear without legal representation, including two men accused of murdering a pensioner who had to represent themselves in court in Sheffield last week.
The lawyers said they were calling off the strike as a “gesture of goodwill”, but stressed that no deal had been struck with Mr Gove.The lawyers said they were calling off the strike as a “gesture of goodwill”, but stressed that no deal had been struck with Mr Gove.
Their move came after barristers’ and solicitors’ leaders held a fresh round of talks at the MoJ. They said in a joint statement: “Although no offer to settle the issue has yet been made, as a gesture of goodwill and recognising the importance of this engagement, we firmly believe that the time is right to suspend the action with immediate effect. By doing so we hope the relationship which has now been established will continue into the future.”Their move came after barristers’ and solicitors’ leaders held a fresh round of talks at the MoJ. They said in a joint statement: “Although no offer to settle the issue has yet been made, as a gesture of goodwill and recognising the importance of this engagement, we firmly believe that the time is right to suspend the action with immediate effect. By doing so we hope the relationship which has now been established will continue into the future.”
But there was a backlash among some legal aid lawyers against the decision to suspend the action.But there was a backlash among some legal aid lawyers against the decision to suspend the action.
The MoJ said that it welcomed the move and looked forward to “continuing to work constructively with the professions”.The MoJ said that it welcomed the move and looked forward to “continuing to work constructively with the professions”.
The 8.75 per cent reduction followed a previous 8.75 per cent cut last year as the ministry attempts to find savings from its budget.The 8.75 per cent reduction followed a previous 8.75 per cent cut last year as the ministry attempts to find savings from its budget.
Mark Fenhalls, the chairman-elect of the Criminal Bar Association, said the MoJ’s plans represented an “existential threat” to the justice system. He added: “Solicitors and barristers must continue, even at this late stage, to  try to persuade officials and politicians that there are viable alternatives.”Mark Fenhalls, the chairman-elect of the Criminal Bar Association, said the MoJ’s plans represented an “existential threat” to the justice system. He added: “Solicitors and barristers must continue, even at this late stage, to  try to persuade officials and politicians that there are viable alternatives.”
The Tory politician allegedly made a surprising claim that no doubt led to chair of Tech City UK Joanne Shields spluttering into her coffee when he reportedly explained to her that London’s young entrepreneurs have been attracted to the capital because of all of the “hot sex” on offer. Hmmmm.
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The Twitter sphere decided to educate the Education Secretary on some of the traits actually associated with being British, after it emerged schools would be required to encourage the promotion of “fundamental British values” in the classroom in the wake of the Birmingham “Trojan Horse” investigation. Among the many suggestions were Stuart Brown’s summary of: “Being wary of foreigners while having a Belgian beer with an Indian curry in your Spanish villa wearing Indonesian clothes.” LBC presenter James O’Brien meanwhile suggested “queuing; dressing inappropriately when the sun comes out; warm beer; winning World Wars; immigration & Pot Noodles” could be placed within the British Values bracket, while “socks and sandals” and “complaining about immigration” have proved relatively popular.
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As part of the BBC’s News School Report project, school children were given the opportunity to interview Mr Gove, who claimed to be a fan of rap music. When asked by one girl if he would give them “a taster of your favourite rap”, he responded with an impromptu performance of a Wham! song, complete with bobbing, fist clenching and the lines: “Hey everybody look at me, I’ve got street credibility. I may not have a job but I have a good time with the boys I meet down on the line.”
The (very blurry) moment Gove was filmed falling over before hurriedly climbing back up and walking off in a Vine quickly went viral.
In a trend that stubbornly refuses to disappear, Mr Gove decided to jump on the bandwagon by posing for a selfie – although he did apparently warn the children to “watch out that he didn’t break the camera”.
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Solicitors’ leaders are also taking soundings over whether legal firms could withdraw their bids for legal aid contracts under a new system being rolled out by the MoJ.Solicitors’ leaders are also taking soundings over whether legal firms could withdraw their bids for legal aid contracts under a new system being rolled out by the MoJ.
As the action intensified, the MoJ’s legal service, the Public Defender Service, which has around 3o lawyers, has been forced to provide  emergency cover as cases back up in police stations. It insisted that disruption to the courts had been minimal, but solicitors claimed the action was causing chaos in the criminal justice system.As the action intensified, the MoJ’s legal service, the Public Defender Service, which has around 3o lawyers, has been forced to provide  emergency cover as cases back up in police stations. It insisted that disruption to the courts had been minimal, but solicitors claimed the action was causing chaos in the criminal justice system.