Independence day

The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, announced his plan to penalise defence lawyers for alleged delay when he appeared on the 'Today Programme' (radio 4, 11 May).

His announcement followed the broadcast of an interview with a 13-year-old client.

The client spoke more about his perception of the experience of others at court rather than his own.

This gave a misleading picture of the problems in the system.

Mr Blunkett should know that disincentives to delay by defence lawyers are already built into the system through fixed fees and wasted costs orders.

He used this opportunity to repeat his calculated slur that solicitors must choose whether they are tradesmen or professionals.

These unfounded criticisms serve the Home Secretary's need to deflect attention from the shortcomings of his own policies.

The fear is that his real agenda is to undermine the role of independent defence practitioners.

Paul Kaufman, Wiseman Lee, London