Does the BBC regard cricket as more important than legal aid?

A heated discussion on Thursday lunchtime on BBC Radio 5 Live of the current action being taken by solicitors and barristers against the government’s cuts to criminal legal aid was interrupted halfway for an update on day 2 of the third test of the Ashes.

After listeners were told that England were 214-7 (and that Mark Pougatch has five tickets for the last day), the debate on the action - legal aid, not cricket - resumed.

Sadly, any hopes of a calm discussion were dashed as 23 Essex Street Chambers’ Richard Bentwood, a member of the Criminal Bar Association’s executive committee, and journalist Harry Mount, who qualified as a barrister, argued over QCs’ pay and court advocacy.

But at least England survived to lunch with no further wickets falling, leaving the group to continue without interruption.

Topics