Former Justice minister Lord Bach is to lead an immediate review into legal aid on behalf of the Labour Party.
The review, which begins immediately, will look at the impact and wider consequences of the reforms carried out by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which removed legal aid from large areas of law in April 2013, including housing, family and immigration. It will present proposals for reform.
Lord Bach, currently a shadow justice minister, has been asked to carry out the review by the new shadow lord chancellor, Lord Falconer.
Karl Turner MP, Labour’s shadow solicitor general, also joins the justice team to work on legal aid and criminal justice issues. He practised as a criminal defence barrister before entering Parliament in 2010.
Lord Falconer says: “I’m very pleased to welcome Willy Bach and Karl Turner to the Shadow Justice team and I am delighted that Willy will be leading this review.
“Willy has led the opposition to the Coalition’s reform in the House of Lords and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the task. This review will allow the issues to be debated and attention to be drawn to the disproportionate impact that the lack of help and advice available is having on the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.”
Lord Bach says: “Access to legal help and representation is a cornerstone of the rule of law and the mark of a decent society but the government’s reforms have left too many people unable to enforce their rights.”
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