Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/647/10631
From The Socialist newspaper, 17 November 2010
Victory in law centre battle
Manchester law centre staff protest against funding cuts, photo Hugh Caffrey (Click to enlarge)
South Manchester Law Centre provides free and affordable legal services to people on low incomes, and yet it has to fight for survival after cuts in funding.
As previously reported in The Socialist, the campaign applied for a judicial review and on 8 November it won permission to be heard in January.
So now the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is spending more money on court cases to enforce a cut in funding! The LSC forked out for a QC and barrister to oppose the campaign's application for a judicial review, after losing a similar case in September over the funding of family law contracts.
Lobbying the LSC's Manchester office on 15 November, campaigners chanted: "LSC justice - no justice!" The campaign distributed a statement, urging the LSC to "stop defending the indefensible. Instead of wasting further public funds on expensive lawyers they should restore funding to make South Manchester Law Centre sustainable".
Manchester law centre staff protest against funding cuts, photo Hugh Caffrey (Click to enlarge)
The campaign urges you to:
Send emails of protest to the LSC at Carolyn.downs@legalservices.gsi.gov.uk and legal.lsc@legalservices.gsi.gov.uk
Go to the website www.smlc.org.uk and Facebook group "Save South Manchester Law Centre"
Join the lobby of the council on 8 December from 9am, (the Shop Stewards Network will be lobbying from 7.30am), at the town hall in Albert Square, Manchester city centre
Join the campaign when the judicial review goes to court on 4 and 5 January, 9.30am, Manchester High Court, Bridge Street West, city centre.
The campaign meets every Tuesday evening. For more information contact admin@smlc.org.uk or call 0161 225 5111
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In The Socialist 17 November 2010:
Socialist Party youth and students
Massive student demo shows anti-cuts anger
24 November - Strike against fees and cuts
10 November demonstration: Students fighting back
War and occupation
Afghanistan: Withdraw the troops now!
Socialist Party workplace news
Kirklees - fighting £400 million budget cut
Protests and meetings against the cuts
Ballot cancelled in BA dispute
National Shop Stewards Network: Anti-cuts conference
Socialist Party news and analysis
Universal Credit - a thinly veiled attack on the sick and unemployed
Coalition turns back the clock on justice
Tories promote fast food nation
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition launches its campaign for the 2011 local elections
International socialist news and analysis
Ireland: 'Not simply a crisis but an absolute disaster'
Ireland: United Left Alliance to challenge at next general election
Support the Laura Ashley strikers
Socialist Party review
Britain's trillion pound horror story
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