Vlog: London Protest: Solicitors down quills in support of Legal Aid

Just as there is a cliched view of lawyers there is a cliched view of protests that includes masks, violence and police in riot gear. Westminster Magistrates Court was the scene yesterday for a more genteel example of the genre – a protest by the legal profession at the proposed cuts in Legal Aid. Anonymous and Occupy weren’t there, there were no anarchist flags or chants of Whose Streets? Our Streets? But the feeling was just as strong.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has proposed cuts to Legal Aid that supporters say will reduce the prospects for justice for many people and actually cost more in the long run. Plans include reducing access to free legal help for important issues such as welfare benefits advice, immigration appeals and family disputes.

The Flaneur has reported on several protests recently but this one was slightly different to the others. There were more people in suits than is the norm, though there was still the hard to understand loudhailer and banners and signs blocking your view of the speakers. It differed in another way – the police presence was muted. A couple of officers hung around, but there were no vans full of backup hiding around the corner. It was also earlier in the day. Your standard protest starts after lunch and meanders until everyone goes home, whereas this ran on a tight one hour schedule from 9.30am.

Speakers included Diane Abbot MP and Patrick Maguire and several other people who looked sincere although it was hard to make out  who they were or what they said owing to the inadequate loudhailer and the Marylebone Road. There was no after-protest where a decision is made to march around the streets of London, usually followed at a discreet distance by the police. Instead Matt Foot pointed out that this was the first time that solicitors and barristers have taken things to this level and ended proceedings with a familiar cry – No justice, no peace, although the crowd were a little slow joining in. I don’t think they’re used to protesting. Yet.

More information on the campaign: Save Legal Aid