The Leveson inquiry is not a Court, it is a Tribunal. The government says people will not have paid advice and representation at Tribunals, they can do it themselves. Today the government is applying for Hunt, Cameron, Clarke and others in person to be "core participants" at the inquiry, entitling them to have highly paid legal advice and representation out of public funds at these hearings which deal with their personal roles in the issues. Yet at the same time ordinary people will not have any help at Tribunals. Disgusting double standards
8 government ministers have been individually given core participant status, including Clarke. Leveson has made it clear, it is not the government as a person who has been given status. There is no way these members of a Cabinet of millionaires who are cutting legal aid for ordinary people for help with Tribunals, should be allowed have this paid out of public funds for help with a Tribunal. Let's hope some MPs quote Clarke's words about Tribunals back to him and asks him where his "life, liberty or home" are at stake here.
If Clarke, Osborne, Cameron and co have paid legal representation before the Leveson Tribunal anyone on for protesting there about their double standards while they are cutting legal aid for help with Tribunals?
Post by nickd (Mylegal) on May 4, 2012 15:02:49 GMT
I mean to say isn't a tribunal oh so 'user - friendly', no wigs, no gowns, no fear of loss of liberty? Come to think of it isn't Ken Clarke a 'QC', surely the old legal hack could brush up on all he learned in days gone by and utter his own words in what strikes me as a not so difficult application to make?
Or maybe Dave himself could give his QC brother a bell and ask if he fancied doing a spot of 'pro-bono' down at the RCJ?
Nope, so we'll be sticking that down on the MOJ accounts shall we Ken? You know the bit where it itemises all those millions of £££££££££££££'s in the sections relating to 'Treasury Solicitors', alongside all that other expense you fritter away on wasted costs,we'll be reminding you about that - all in good time though.
But the poor old disabled, the unemployed, the down - trodden in search of a teeny little bit of 'justice' over their piffling benefits (45% of ESA appellants succeed at Tribunal you know - latest stats refer) they're just left to fight it out themselves - not worth all of £150 quid to secure them a little bit of justice - so long as you all get your bit of 'legal aid' at the tax - payer's expense.
Guardian on Clarke and the gang's status as "core participants". Let's keep a close eye on how much public money is spent on their legal representation and preparation for this Tribunal. Wonder which QC will be there to hold Clarke's hand when he gives evidence? Maybe it will paid for under some kind of "exceptional funding scheme"?
"David Cameron wins advance access to Leveson inquiry witness statements
Prime minister, Nick Clegg, Jeremy Hunt and four ministers will give evidence in person after being given core participant status
guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 May 2012 15.47 BST Article history
David Cameron: will give evidence in person to the Leveson inquiry. Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian
David Cameron and seven other cabinet ministers will be given advance sight of witness statements to the Leveson inquiry, including those submitted by the former Downing Street spin doctor Andy Coulson and ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks.
James Eadie, QC, counsel to the inquiry for the government, argued successfully at an emergency hearing of the inquiry called by Lord Justice Leveson on Friday afternoon that ministers should be granted core participant status, allowing them advance sight of witness statements, and be prepared to respond to potential criticism.
Leveson conceded that Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, was disadvantaged by not having prior notice of 163 pages of emails between his office and News Corporation, which were submitted to the inquiry last month as part of Rupert Murdoch's evidence. The resulting political row has left Hunt facing calls from the Labour party for his resignation.
Eadie applied for the status on behalf of Cameron, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, Hunt, justice secretary Ken Clarke, home secretary Theresa May, business secretary Vince Cable, chancellor George Osborne and education secretary Michael Gove.
All are expected to give evidence in person to the inquiry apart from Osborne, who will be submitting a written witness statement.
The government's application for core participant status was made just ahead of what is expected to be a difficult week at the Leveson inquiry for the Conservatives. Coulson, Cameron's former director of communications and ex-editor of the News of the World, gives evidence on Thursday and Brooks on Friday.
As core participants, Cameron and his ministers can argue for redactions in Brooks' and Coulson's statements before they are published on the inquiry website. ...........................................|"
