In an unprecedented intervention, six legal bodies, representing 250,000 lawyers, expressed “grave concern” over the language being used toward legal professionals
Legal groups have accused Tory and Reform politicians of “irresponsible and dangerous” language that is putting lawyers at risk.
In an unprecedented intervention, six legal bodies, representing 250,000 lawyers, expressed “grave concern” over the language being used toward legal professionals simply for doing their job.
It follows Robert Jenrick’s bizarre Tory conference speech, where he pulled out a judge’s wig from a briefcase to hold up as a prop, while declaring he would never allow “political activists of any political hue to don the wig, ever again”.
READ MORE: Robert Jenrick speech prop backfires as he’s accused of Trump-style plan
He was savaged at the time by the Government who accused Mr Jenrick of attacking “British values” by threatening to “trash the institutions and traditions that hold our country together.” The top Tory has also pledged to scrap the independent public body responsible for developing guidelines for judges and magistrates in England and Wales because it was “not fit for purpose”, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has repeatedly complained of “activist lawyers”.
The Tories along with Reform UK have also made repeated claims of two-tier justice. Now the Bar Council of England and Wales, the Law Society of England and Wales, the Law Society of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates, the Bar of Northern Ireland and the Law Society of Northern Ireland have issued a joint statement, expressing concern over threats to them and their families.
In a statement issued to the Sunday Mirror, they said: “Legal professionals have been vilified and targeted simply for doing their job. The judiciary is independent from parliament and politicians, and lawyers represent their clients without fear or favour.
“Politicians have a responsibility to respect the role of judges in upholding the rule of law and interpreting legislation that has been agreed by parliament. Unlike politicians, members of the judiciary are expected to be strictly impartial when considering how the law should be applied. Lawyers must abide by their professional ethics code and ensure that people facing life changing legal problems get a fair hearing.
“Politically motivated attacks on the legal profession are irresponsible and dangerous. They weaken public trust and confidence in the rule of the law and erode the very foundations of justice that underpin fairness and democracy.
“Barristers, solicitors and judges have been subjected to violence, death threats and rape threats. Some have faced threats to their family members. We have repeatedly seen law firms and offices be set upon by protestors. We are deeply disturbed by this rising tide of intimidation targeting those who serve our justice system and uphold democratic principles.”
In the statement, they explained lawyers are “not their clients”, and told politicians undermining justice that everyone was entitled to access the courts.
In a damning reminder, they added: “Nobody is above the law, including politicians. Nobody is beneath the law’s protections.”
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