100 signatures reached
To: BBC
Fair Reporting of Campaign to Save UK Justice
This and the last Government are intent on dismantling and destroying Access to Justice for the majority of the British people. We need and deserve fair reporting of the campaign to Save UK Justice. Instead we get silence and kowtowing to the Ministry of Justice.
Why is this important?
Over the past few years, the Ministry of Justice has sought to dismantle the public's access to justice - be it by Legal Aid cuts, Judicial Review destruction or the appalling Dual Contract system. The British media have stood silent, they have been complicit by that silence in the MoJ's destruction of the Criminal Justice System as we know it. They have failed in their duty to call the Government to account for its numerous failings in this area. Judicial Reviews of Government mismanagement and other failures come and go with barely a whisper. Legal Aid strikes occur with virtually no news coverage. Courts are in chaos. Solicitors are going out of business. Barristers are going bankrupt. The media keeps schtum.
Prime example: BBC 5 Live were due to interview Franklin Sinclair of Tuckers Solicitors on the morning of 20th July re legal aid cuts, dual contracting and current industrial action. However, it would appear that as the MoJ - the party on the "other side" of the conflict - has refused to participate in the interview, the interview has been cancelled. That would appear to give carte blanche to Govt departments to stifle complaint and debate about the dismantling / destruction of the Legal Aid system and Criminal Justice System. They cannot be called to account in the media do not report what is going on - for example the significant and substantial disruption caused by the action to date but disingenuously denied by the MoJ. How can we, legal aid lawyers, engage with the other side and with the public if THE public service broadcaster in this country remains silent on the topic with minimal to no reportage? How can the public be properly informed? How can the MoJ be scrutinised and called to account? Very simply it can't be and it won't be unless the media, especially those such as the BBC with fine traditions of impartiality and scrutiny, fulfill their duties and refuse to give in to Governmental tactics such as this blatant stonewall by the MoJ.
First they came for the lawyers. Next they will may come for you. You never think you will need a lawyer.... but when you do, it may be too late.
Encourage debate, don't stifle it!
