A veteran barrister politician and a new MP are vying to lead the influential House of Commons justice committee in the new parliament. Nominations closed yesterday with Andy Slaughter and Mike Tapp each securing the required backing of at least 15 MPs.
The chair is being elected from the Labour party under the allocation of committee chairs agreed by the House of Commons following the general election.
Slaughter, a non-practising barrister, is the more experienced candidate: he has been an MP for 19 years and served as shadow justice minister for six years, holding the briefs at various times for courts, legal aid, prisons and probation. He also did a two-year stint as shadow solicitor general and was a member of the justice committee for three years.
As a barrister, Slaughter practised in criminal and civil law and he remains a patron of Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre, which is in his constituency.
He describes the justice systems as a public service that has been neglected under successive governments. ‘Crisis is a much-used word in government at present, but few doubt we have a prisons crisis, a courts crisis and very depleted representation and advice services,’ he said.
‘There are too few courts, judges, lawyers and the system is inefficient. Advice deserts exist across parts of the country. There is a lack of early advice and representation which excludes many from access to justice in civil and family cases as well as crime. The delays in cases coming to court arbitrarily punish victims, witnesses and defendants.’
As well as the major functions of the Ministry of Justice, Slaughter also proposed that the committee should look at IPP sentences, miscarriages of justice and the role of the CCRC, the coronial service, prosecution of serious fraud and SLAPPS.
Slaughter’s backers include former shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry and Labour lawyers Catherine Atkinson and Karl Turner, plus from other parties the former attorney general Sir Jeremy Wright and Liberal Democrat Layla Moran.
Tapp, elected for Dover and Deal in July, served in the Intelligence Corps and had three tours of Iraq and Afghanistan before joining the National Crime Agency and then the Ministry of Defence. His supporter base is largely made up of newer Labour MPs but he also has the backing of Conservative stalwart David Davis.
Tapp asked electors to consider his ‘extensive, real-world experience’ across the judicial system and his work in gathering intelligence to present files to the Crown Prosecution Service.
His priorities are to improve the physical conditions and rehabilitation opportunities in prisons, increase the number of courts, judges and legal professionals to address court delays and inefficiencies and improving access to legal support.
He added: ‘I am fearless in holding individuals to account, regardless of their position or status. As evidenced by my endorsers, including other legal professionals and opposition MPs, there is confidence in my ability to chair and lead a fair, robust, and constructive committee at a time when it is needed most.’
The justice committee – and by extension its chair – play an important role in holding the government to account on justice issues and setting the agenda for what ministers should be prioritising. The ballot will be held tomorrow.
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