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The assault on legal aid started almost immediately the Legal Advice and Assistance Act 1948 became law. Originally the idea had been for legal aid to be part of the post war welfare system so people could access all courts and tribunals. That dream was attacked on the basis of it being unfair to privately funded parties, a gravy train and regularly abused/misused.
In recent times Labour decided to reduce, limit, restrict legal aid and therefore access to justice. The ConDems took that to a whole new level. The failure of the Lib Dems to stop this and to go along with the lies promoted by MoJ is shocking.
Only if the justice systems are properly resourced, only if all agencies and legal aid funding is properly resourced can victims of crime and parties to proceedings be assured of Justice.
Cases aren't investigated, cases don't proceed as quickly as they could, disclosure between parties is slow and incomplete, probation are stretched, the courts are stretched, the cps is stretched as are CAFCASS, the system reforms are half-baked and a disgrace. The bigger disgrace is how so few people in positions of power say anything against the "reform" process and instead embrace it, promote it and organise it.
The current process is based on the MoJ's ingrained prejudice against lawyers and people accessing Courts and Tribunals. It is based on ideology as opposed to evidence or need.
Grayling is the worst Lord Chancellor that England has ever had and no-one in power will say it to his face.