Bar Council Calls on Opposition to Hold Government to Account on Justice Reforms

28 September 2012

The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, will this weekend call on the Labour Party to make a stronger public case against damaging justice policy at the Party's Annual Conference in Manchester.

Michael Todd QC, Chairman of the Bar, said:

"The Coalition Government continues to pursue and implement a number of policies which will hit access to justice and the Rule of Law hard. Whether the LASPO Act, which will see an unprecedented rise in self-representing litigants, or the Justice and Security Bill, which threatens fundamental principles of open justice; it is vital that there is strong and vocal Parliamentary opposition to these measures.

"But opposition alone isn't enough. Labour needs to outline its own justice policies too, to strengthen the debate and offer a clear alternative to the Government's measures."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Further information is available from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525.

2. The Bar Council has published a 2012 Party Conference briefing - please click here to read it.

3. The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes:

• The Bar's high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services
• Fair access to justice for all
• The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and
• The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.

The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.