Liberal Democrats have called for a properly funded legal aid system to be protected, as the government considers the responses to its controversial reform proposals.

At their annual spring conference, the coalition partners backed plans to protect access to justice for the most vulnerable by ensuring appropriate impact assessments have been carried out before any of the government’s proposed changes to legal aid are introduced.

Tom Brake (pictured), co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities, said yesterday: 
‘Liberal Democrats reasserted the belief that a properly funded legal aid system where access to justice is not denied to those who can’t afford it is the mark of a civilised and democratic society.



‘We want to ensure that the potential impacts of cuts are fully assessed before they are introduced, and that the legal aid budget doesn’t bear costs which should fall elsewhere in the system.’

He said the party wanted to look at making savings through reducing the prison population and investing in more restorative justice.

‘We realise that the economic mess left by Labour has placed strains on all areas of public spending. Liberal Democrats are committed to fighting against the cuts to legal aid instigated by the last government,’ said Brake.