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• Jacky Peacock commented  ·  August 5, 2011 9:43 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Why can't the government see how short-sighted these cuts are. If people are left to suffer in poor housing conditions, running up debts while they try to heat their cold private rented home, and with no help to challenge the rejection of benefit claims, this will cost the public purse far more than is saved. Health costs, education, and unemployment to name but a few of the budgets that will be overspent. I mention the financial costs only because we have to take it as a given that this Governent doesn't give a damn about whether or not people can exercise their rights.

• david renton commented  ·  August 5, 2011 8:10 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  please campaign on this important issue

• Ann Cutting commented  ·  August 5, 2011 7:13 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  The cuts imposed by this ideologically driven government will harm the most vulnerable people in the country; will support the bad employer; will leave people in mental hospitals without legal representation; will return victims of violence to the country that abused them; will leave women at the mercy of abusive partners.
  In a civilised society, it is the role of the State to protect the weak and vunerable, this is no longer a civilised society as evidenced by the destruction of legal aid provision.

• Dan Wilkins commented  ·  August 5, 2011 6:47 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  For a country that has always prided itself on justice, these cuts go way too deep. Legal Aid is not a sexy cause but it cuts to the heart of who we are as a society and it is important that politicians see this before it is too late. Once it is lost, it will never be regained.

• Sarver Lalljee commented  ·  August 5, 2011 6:21 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  The removal of legal aid from most areas of social welfare law will mean that the poor and most vulnerable sections of society will have no access to justice. This is at a time when the government and local councils are cutting back on welfare benefits and services which will impact most severely on the poorest sections of the community. The need for advice will in fact be greater.

• phil mcleish commented  ·  August 5, 2011 6:17 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Hi Dave,

  It's me, Phil.

  I would be really impressed if you guys could take this on. I know no-one really thinks much of lawyers when they think of the welfare state, but without the poor being able to - at least occasionally - make the powerful obey the rules, they will become lazy, corrupt and complacent; unfairness and abuse of power will become more widespread and the poor and shat upon will become ever more cynical and apathetic, and social trust and the general health and resilience of our society will decline.

  thanks Phil

• phil mcleish commented  ·  August 5, 2011 6:17 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Hi Dave,

  It's me, Phil.

  I would be really impressed if you guys could take this on. I know no-one really thinks much of lawyers when they think of the welfare state, but without the poor being able to - at least occasionally - make the powerful obey the rules, they will become lazy, corrupt and complacent; unfairness and abuse of power will become more widespread and the poor and shat upon will become ever more cynical and apathetic, and social trust and the general health and resilience of our society will decline.

  thanks Phil

• phil mcleish commented  ·  August 5, 2011 6:17 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Hi Dave,

  It's me, Phil.

  I would be really impressed if you guys could take this on. I know no-one really thinks much of lawyers when they think of the welfare state, but without the poor being able to - at least occasionally - make the powerful obey the rules, they will become lazy, corrupt and complacent; unfairness and abuse of power will become more widespread and the poor and shat upon will become ever more cynical and apathetic, and social trust and the general health and resilience of our society will decline.

  thanks Phil

• phil mcleish commented  ·  August 5, 2011 6:17 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Hi Dave,

  It's me, Phil.

  I would be really impressed if you guys could take this on. I know no-one really thinks much of lawyers when they think of the welfare state, but without the poor being able to - at least occasionally - make the powerful obey the rules, they will become lazy, corrupt and complacent; unfairness and abuse of power will become more widespread and the poor and shat upon will become ever more cynical and apathetic, and social trust and the general health and resilience of our society will decline.

  thanks Phil

• phil mcleish commented  ·  August 5, 2011 6:17 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Hi Dave,

  It's me, Phil.

  I would be really impressed if you guys could take this on. I know no-one really thinks much of lawyers when they think of the welfare state, but without the poor being able to - at least occasionally - make the powerful obey the rules, they will become lazy, corrupt and complacent; unfairness and abuse of power will become more widespread and the poor and shat upon will become ever more cynical and apathetic, and social trust and the general health and resilience of our society will decline.

  thanks Phil

• thomas yaxley commented  ·  August 5, 2011 6:05 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Ironic really that the people proposing the cuts are those that wouldn't benefit from legal aid. I guess its a case of 'I'm alright Jack'.

• wilma morrison commented  ·  August 5, 2011 5:53 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  the proposed legal aid cuts will severely restrict access to justice for the most vulneralbe and poor of our society - it is a cocktail of ignorance and arrogance

• Mick Beirne commented  ·  August 5, 2011 5:52 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  The poor need access to justice!

• Jacqueline commented  ·  August 5, 2011 5:24 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Thank you BUSYBEE! EVEN ON THIS PAGE 11 PEOPLE HAVE LEFT COMMENTS AND NOT VOTED.

  PLEASE CLICK ON THE RIGHT HAND CORNER (WHERE THE NO. 3 IS). SO MANY WASTED VOTES!

  WHAT A SHAME! THANK YOU!

• Bruce S Bebington commented  ·  August 5, 2011 4:29 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  I do not say there should be no cuts at all because the justice expenditure has to bear its share and some cut in state expenditure would be wise to recoup from the credit crunch. However these proposals provide no assistance for people facing uncontrollable debt, the denial of basicwelfare benefits and the sack from bad employers etc. These proposals strike against the principle of equality for the vulnerable, the poor and those dispossessed of their rights. These savings should either be deleted from government cuts or the money made up by more cuts elsewhere.

• E L Fowler commented  ·  August 5, 2011 4:09 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  I think it is a terrible shame that so many people will not be able to get the free advice they need if the cuts go through and we will ultimately end up raising a generation of children who will have nothing because all the help is gradually being taken away by the government. What will happen to the vulnerable or those with mental health difficulties who really need support with these often complex issues when it is hard enough to cope with everyday life?

• Katie Fleming commented  ·  August 5, 2011 3:44 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Taking legal aid away will deprive many people from having a voice. Coupled with the drastic cuts in social welfare this is nothing short of a disaster.

• Shani Wilkins commented  ·  August 5, 2011 1:31 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  The withdrawal of legal aid for most debt welfare benefits and housing cases will be devastating for the people if affects.

• Valerie Clark commented  ·  August 5, 2011 12:56 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  It will be the most vulnerable who are affected the most, the young, the old and the disabled. Is this the basis of a just society?

• Roselle Potts commented  ·  August 5, 2011 12:42 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  The planned cuts in legal aid are going to damage those who need to be able to access justice.