The House of Lords will have their last chance to block devastating cuts to legal aid advice in just a fortnight, as the final ‘Report stage’ of the Legal Aid Bill starts on 5 March.
Although the Government may be able to over-turn any votes later on, if Lords don’t vote to save legal aid there is no chance! You can campaign in these crucial stages of the Legal Aid Bill by:
- Asking Liberal Democrats Lords to support welfare advice
- Telling your MP why immigration advice is a special case
- Pairing up with a peer
The effect of so many of us campaigning has already been seen in the earlier debates in the Lords, but we’re now at the stage when votes are won and lost. Please continue to help by asking friends, family, colleagues or anyone who might care to join us in this crucial stage of the campaign by taking part in the actions below.
If you haven’t taken part yet, please make time today!
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Ask the Liberal Democrats to support welfare advice
A Lord from each party has supported the call to protect legal aid for the most complex welfare benefits cases, by tabling an amendment to the Legal Aid Bill.
Liberal Democrat peers will be crucial to winning any votes on this issue. Lord Thomas of Gresford is leading the Liberal Democrat party’s work on the Bill. Please ask him to support this amendment to protect legal aid on welfare benefits
Find out more about the issue and the amendment.
Immigration advice – a ‘special case’
Campaigners concerned about immigration advice are asked to write to their MP, outlining why the legal aid cuts to immigration will be particularly devastating. ILPA have prepared a template letter and instructions you can use.
Download the template letter on immigration advice
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Pair up with a peer
Could you let a Lord know why free legal advice is important to you? We need as many people as possible to write to a Lord in early March before the last chance to block devastating cuts to legal aid.
Justice for All will provide you with all the parliamentary detail, but we need you to share the personal experiences and passionate views that have a real effect on politicians.
Please email mailto:pairupwithapeer@justice-for-all.org.uk?subject=Pair%20me%20up! before the end of Feburary to be paired up.
Once again, thank you for your support.
Justice for All campaign group