Labour’s new shadow justice secretary has pledged to protect the legal profession from attacks on its integrity – but is resolute about resisting calls for extra funding pledges.

Speaking at the party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Shabana Mahmood accused the government of undermining confidence in the rule of law and weakening the justice system over the last 13 years.

She suggested lawyers would be crucial for holding any potential Labour administration to the highest standards and spoke out against criticism of the sector from some within the government.

‘I will never allow the judiciary or the legal profession to be scapegoated for doing their job on which our democracy depends,’ she told a meeting of the Society of Labour Lawyers.

‘It is beneath the dignity of governing and the rule of law when a flailing government attacks [lawyers].’

But when it came to providing extra funds for legal aid lawyers or the crumbling court system, Mahmood was clear that – aside from existing policies to increase prosecutors and create specialist rape courts – Labour would make no pledges at this stage to commit more funding.

She highlighted the record levels of Crown court backlogs and the year-long waits for a hearing in family courts, but said Labour’s priority must be economic stability over increased spending.

Shabana Mahmood

Mahmood was clear that Labour would make no pledges to commit more funding

Source: Shutterstock

Mahmood, who became shadow justice secretary last month, said: ‘I am not in a position to make a big commitment. It is hard but I must be very clear the only policies we are putting forward are those which are fully funded.

‘I make no apologies for the fact we are in a fiscally constricted environment. The economic inheritance is going to be really difficult and there is not going to be much money around so we have to act within those constraints.’

Her calls for a realistic outlook on Labour’s prospects of immediate change were echoed by shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry, who spoke at the same event.

Thornberry warned it would take time for Labour to stamp their mark on the justice system, adding that addressing the existing problems was a ‘necessary precondition’ of improving access to justice.

‘Before we are able to do anything we have to do a repair job,’ she said. ‘It is going to take a lot of time and is not going to generate any praise or enthusiasm.’

 

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