Islington Council Leader, Catherine West, today (Thursday 16 June) joined local MP Jeremy Corbyn and Ruth Hayes from Islington Law Centre to present a petition to the Ministry of Justice against the government’s savage cuts to legal aid.
Support the campaign at www.justice4all.org.uk
The government’s proposals to slice £350 million out of the legal aid budget will hit some of the most vulnerable people in our community, by removing access to free legal advice on everyday problems with debt, employment, housing and welfare benefits.
Cllr Catherine West said: “Islington Labour brought a Citizens Advice Bureau back to the borough because we know how vital independent advice is.
Our community is being hit by the harshest government cuts any of us have ever seen, with many of our low income families seeing their jobs disappear and benefits reduce.
These government proposals will damage our community and leave thousands of vulnerable people without the legal help they need.”
Jeremy Corbyn MP said: “Legal aid is part of the welfare state; cuts in legal aid mean the denial of justice for tens of thousands of people on average or low incomes, or unemployed or on benefits. I’m impressed with the work of local solicitor practices, law centres, Islington People’s Rights and the Citizens Advice Bureau. This petition is asking the government at this late stage to think again to not deny justice to those who need and deserve it”
The Justice for All campaign is a coalition of charities, legal and advice agencies, politicians, trade unions, community groups and members of the public. It is campaigning to ensure everyone is treated fairly under the law, no matter who they are, how much money they have or where they live. Almost 1,000 Islington residents have signed Islington Law Centre’s petition against the government’s proposed legal aid reforms.
