Wales’ Counsel General calls for UK Ministers to end attacks on lawyers and withdraw anti-democratic Bills
The Welsh Government’s Counsel General has chided the UK Government over its relationship with the legal sector over the last 12 months and called for a major reset from the new Tory administration.
Speaking in Llandudno at today’s Legal Wales Conference ahead of the start of the new Welsh legal year, Mick Antoniw will warn the last 12 months has been a bad year for the rule of law in the United Kingdom.
He will outline four specific things the new UK Government should do to change course.
Calling for a change in tone in the relationship with the legal sector, he will condemn language such as “activist lawyers” and “lefty human rights lawyers” that came from Ministers in the previous administration.
He will also urge Westminster to ditch the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, the Bill of Rights, and the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill – three bills that he warns threaten the rule of law.
Mr Antoniw will also argue for greater investment in the justice system, saying underfunding risks denying people access to justice and is a particular risk for smaller law firms, a key feature of the Welsh legal system.
Finally, the Counsel General will urge the UK Government to fully engage with developing the Welsh justice system based on recommendations from the Thomas Commission – the largest ever examination of justice in Wales.
Anti-democratic
Mr Antoniw said: “As we enter a new legal year, it is impossible not to reflect on the damage done by the UK Government in the last 12 months. We have seen attacks on lawyers, anti-democratic Bills and a failure to address the key issues that are preventing people getting access to justice.
“In a new legal year, with a new Government at Westminster, the need to change course is crystal clear.
“Our ask of the UK Government is to change its tone, withdraw its most heinous legislation, fund the justice system including an increase in legal aid, and take forward at least some of the independent Commission on Justice in Wales’ recommendations to develop justice in Wales.
“We are fully committed to ensuring people in Wales can get the effective access to justice they need. We need the new UK Government to reset its relationship with the sector and make the same commitment.”
The Counsel General will also use the speech to outline the Welsh Government’s work in promoting justice in Wales. This includes consolidating Welsh law through legislation in the Senedd, supporting the establishment of the Law Council for Wales, and outlining principles for a Welsh justice system in its ‘Delivering Justice for Wales’ consultation.
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Mick Antoniw is a great politician and he is absolutely correct in what he says, in my opinion.
I would like to ask the Labour Party if they will commit to:
‘…….developing the Welsh justice system based on recommendations from the Thomas Commission – the largest ever examination of justice in Wales’ if they win the next GE ?
Welsh Labour’s Counsel General MIck Antoniw is right to call for the Tories to reframe from their hostile rhetoric towards human rights lawyers and to stop their Anti-devolution bills. And it’s a pity that our Former Welsh Labour First Minister Carwyn Jones hasn’t been taken to task by a Senedd Committee regarding his repealing of the 2018 Continuity – or LDEU – Bill passed by majority in the Senedd to protect Welsh devolution from a possible future Whithall government hostile to Welsh devolution. And I’d like to know what reassurances did PM Theresa May give our First Minister that gave… Read more »
Sometimes I think I’m the only one that remembers what that spineless traitor did, everyone else seems to be blinded by his apparent pro independence position, wouldn’t trust him as far as he could be thrown.