Legal aid cuts leave thousands in England and Wales unable to defend their rights, report finds

‘The justice system is in “crisis” as tens of thousands of people have been unable to defend their rights due to cuts to legal aid and “excessively stringent” eligibility requirements, a major report shows.
The Bach Commission, chaired by Labour former justice minister Lord Bach has called for a “significantly simpler and more generous” legal aid scheme. It claimed that the Government’s cuts had gone far further than originally envisaged.
For its report, which was commissioned by Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour leadership, it spoke to more than 100 individuals and organisations with special expertise in all parts of the justice system over the course of two years.
It hoped to find solutions that will restore access to justice as a fundamental public entitlement.
Its report called for the creation of a new legally enforceable “right to justice”, which would guarantee people “reasonable legal assistance” without incurring costs they cannot afford.’
Read more: Legal aid cuts leave thousands in England and Wales unable to defend their rights, report finds