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I agree with almost all the views expressed BUT they lack an adequate historical perspective. The erosion of our justice system began during the Thatcher premiership and has continued relentlessly ever since the mid 1980s. To my recollection the first steps took place when Lord Mackay was appointed Lord Chancellor and shortly thereafter the legal aid fees for conducting an undefended divorce were reduced from £120 approx down to a ludicrous £25 under the Green Form scheme at which point solicitors were effectively acting Pro Bono for all undefended petitioners in respect of their petition. The silence from Chancery Lane was illuminating, and thereafter the direction in which we were heading was entirely clear. The relentless downhill process has been driven by civil servants in the Justice Ministry and the political persuasion of the government and the identity for the time being of the Justice Secretary has largely been irrelevant. Don't make the mistake of blaming the current clueless Justice Secretary.