Equality before the law requires Government to change Legal Aid plans

12.00.00am GMT Tue 28th Nov 2006

Commenting on news that only some of the proposals to change the Legal Aid system have been modified, Liberal Democrat Shadow Constitutional Affairs Secretary, Simon Hughes MP said:

"The Government's response to the concerns of the legal profession is arrogant, complacent and simply not enough. The Government has succeeded in uniting legal services and their users against them.

"Only Government accountants will be happy at this response. Legal aid is as much a fundamental pillar of the welfare state as education and the NHS. It should be valued and not threatened - which is what these proposals do.

"It is unacceptable that ministers have not come to parliament to explain their actions. The Government must be held to account for their arrogance, lack of responsiveness and their foolishness.

"If our country wants equality before the law, these proposals must be changed. The Government must not be let off the hook."