The blatant hypocrisy of Justice Secretary Michael Gove in calling the court system “dysfunctional” for failing society’s poorest, and favouring rich defendants who can afford the best lawyers, takes some beating.
This is a man, a Minister of the last Government, who acquiesced in the virtual abolition of Legal Aid, and who is now personally instigating a further 8.75% cut in what little remains of legal aid funding.
These are moves guaranteed to create the ‘two nation’ justice system Mr Gove now derides and in doing so he fails to take responsibility for his own actions, and for those of a Government of which he was a part, but instead blames the courts!
He, as a member of the last Government, must also take responsibility for the introduction of the tax on conviction, otherwise known as the Criminal Court Charge.
This imposes upon those convicted a further financial burden to add to fine, surcharge (another stealth tax) and court costs of not less than £150 and as much as £1200, amounts which the courts have no discretion in applying and which are not means tested and so hit the poorest members of society hardest.
If the justice system is ‘creaking and outdated’ and ‘failing society’s poorest’ who’s fault is that?
Mr Gove’s attempts to pass responsibility for his department’s failings onto the courts is Orwellian in its dichotomy as he appears to hold two conflicting opinions; that on the one hand he is right to cut legal aid and impose a non-means tested tax on conviction and on the other to blame someone else for failing society’s poorest, and believe both opinions to be true.
Orwell called it ‘double think’, something it would appear Mr Gove is adept at.
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