Lord Newton of Braintree passed away yesterday, the 25th March 2012, just a few days before the 3rd Reading of the Legal Aid and Punishment of Offenders Bill in the House of Lords. Here is the clip of Lord Newton in the Lords on 7th March 2012, with him speaking passionately against his own Party and Government and for Amendment 11, which was ultimately successful



Although a Conservative Peer, Lord Newton went against the Government on key aspects of the Legal Aid Bill, especially on it denying the right of funded assistance to anyone challenging decisions of the state, such as having their benefits withdrawn or being refused benefits to which they are entitled at the outset

I met him only once, at the HoL at the launch of the Unequal Before The Law paper and was pleasantly surprised at his grasp of the interweave between the various bit of legislation his government was pushing through Parliament. He says many good things in this clip that should resonate, whatever your political persuasion - it's well worth listening to in full. I was very sad to hear the news of his death