Times of austerity provide good opportunities for governments to chip away at democratic rights.

So workers’ rights are being cut back, with two years before they accrue unfair dismissal rights and fees being introduced which most employees (after being sacked) will be unable to afford.

In April, most public funding will be removed from family cases, leaving the most disadvantaged, particularly women, vulnerable to continued pressure or abuse from their spouses when they cannot find a lawyer able to stand up for them.

It is frankly appalling that this has been allowed to happen and the ramifications for society will be quite serious and costly.

Ian Godfrey, Shepherd Harris, Enfield