Launch of new Criminal Bar Association podcast.
I'm now 6 months into my year as elected Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, having moved from Vice-Chair to Chair on 1 September 2022.
I came into position at a time when action by barristers had escalated to a full and indefinite walk out. I had been part of the leadership of the action as Vice-Chair.
But there had to be resolution for the benefit of members, criminal justice system and public.Decision on acceptance of that resolution always was with the Criminal Bar. I played my part in achieving it and presenting it to membership.
The Politics
There was a change of Prime Minister from Boris Johnson MP to Liz Truss MP and on 6 September there was change of Lord Chancellor/ Secretary of State for Justice.
Brandon Lewis MP replaced Dominic Raab MP.
He immediately accepted my direct contact to meet and then, at the meeting, agreed to my urgent request to open negotiations.
If Brandon Lewis had not been in position, I would have immediately written to Dominic Raab MP to request a meeting. I did meet him when he returned as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on 25 October 2022. He then committed to honouring the deal.
The Deal
After intense negotiations, where initial offers were explored and rejected, the final offer that was then put to ballot was an increase of upwards of 17% to legal aid payments to barristers. In summary, it amounted to a 15% increase on legal aid payment on all cases going back to 2018 and further commitments of an additional £7 million to specific work. Importantly, there also was commitment to expediting the setting up of a Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board, as had been recommended by the Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid.
The timeline demanded by the CBA for implementation was aggressive.
This offer was accepted in a ballot by 57% of the membership.
The first statutory instrument bringing in the major increase was laid the day after the ballot.
Prosecution fees then had to follow the increase for there to be parity between defence and prosecution. Or so was the argument. The prosecution would not bring in any increase before there was resolution between the CBA and the Ministry of Justice.
The CBA was closely involved in work over the case to the Treasury for additional funds for prosecution barristers.
It was successful with the increase to prosecution fees commencing from 2 May 2023. Credit to the CPS team.
Outside the important need to be paid properly in criminal justice, the Criminal Bar is a rewarding career. Like no other
In this new podcast series, we explore the life and times of criminal barristers.
Ultimately, it is about why "Criminal Justice Matters".
The podcast is launched today where Laurie-Anne Power KC, former Treasurer of the CBA, looks back with me to the action and to the future.
Episode One: "Strike Action".
Please listen and share. It's our first attempt, but we hope of interest.
https://lnkd.in/e-RQfDMi
I'm now 6 months into my year as elected Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, having moved from Vice-Chair to Chair on 1 September 2022.
I came into position at a time when action by barristers had escalated to a full and indefinite walk out. I had been part of the leadership of the action as Vice-Chair.
But there had to be resolution for the benefit of members, criminal justice system and public.Decision on acceptance of that resolution always was with the Criminal Bar. I played my part in achieving it and presenting it to membership.
The Politics
There was a change of Prime Minister from Boris Johnson MP to Liz Truss MP and on 6 September there was change of Lord Chancellor/ Secretary of State for Justice.
Brandon Lewis MP replaced Dominic Raab MP.
He immediately accepted my direct contact to meet and then, at the meeting, agreed to my urgent request to open negotiations.
If Brandon Lewis had not been in position, I would have immediately written to Dominic Raab MP to request a meeting. I did meet him when he returned as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on 25 October 2022. He then committed to honouring the deal.
The Deal
After intense negotiations, where initial offers were explored and rejected, the final offer that was then put to ballot was an increase of upwards of 17% to legal aid payments to barristers. In summary, it amounted to a 15% increase on legal aid payment on all cases going back to 2018 and further commitments of an additional £7 million to specific work. Importantly, there also was commitment to expediting the setting up of a Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board, as had been recommended by the Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid.
The timeline demanded by the CBA for implementation was aggressive.
This offer was accepted in a ballot by 57% of the membership.
The first statutory instrument bringing in the major increase was laid the day after the ballot.
Prosecution fees then had to follow the increase for there to be parity between defence and prosecution. Or so was the argument. The prosecution would not bring in any increase before there was resolution between the CBA and the Ministry of Justice.
The CBA was closely involved in work over the case to the Treasury for additional funds for prosecution barristers.
It was successful with the increase to prosecution fees commencing from 2 May 2023. Credit to the CPS team.
Outside the important need to be paid properly in criminal justice, the Criminal Bar is a rewarding career. Like no other
In this new podcast series, we explore the life and times of criminal barristers.
Ultimately, it is about why "Criminal Justice Matters".
The podcast is launched today where Laurie-Anne Power KC, former Treasurer of the CBA, looks back with me to the action and to the future.
Episode One: "Strike Action".
Please listen and share. It's our first attempt, but we hope of interest.
https://lnkd.in/e-RQfDMi
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