Michael Mansfield QC (pictured standing) criticised the government’s ‘short-sighted and completely erroneous’ approach to the provision of legal aid services at last week’s launch of an all-party parliamentary group on legal aid. The group, chaired by Labour MP Karen Buck, aims to promote parliamentary and public understanding of the role of publicly funded legal services as a pillar of the welfare state and in reducing inequalities in society. It will scrutinise and influence any proposals for the reform of legal aid to ensure access to justice. Buck said: ‘Legal aid is key to tackling social exclusion, especially in these hard economic times.’ Lord Bach, legal aid minister, said he looked forward to being grilled by the group.