Bristol University Press
5 Agents and Agency in the Face of Austerity and Brexit Uncertainty: the Case of Legal Aid
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Steven Truxal
Abstract
In austerity Britain, the contested policies that cut legal aid funding and court system financing threaten justice and the rule of law, the very core of the British judicial system, which is admired and respected worldwide. Thus, it is necessary to identify and to analyse critically policies that affect law and justice, the impacts of such policies and resistance to them. This chapter explores changes to legal aid and justice financing as well as reversals, government justifications for changes and the response of the judiciary and lawyers as a basis for its reflective narrative on the state of the judicial system. As a case study of the wider debate on austerity-through-policy in Britain, the chapter reviews recent legal aid reform and so-called ‘discount justice’ in England and Wales. Particular focus is given to the impact, or likely impact, austerity policies have on the availability of legal aid for criminal cases, and the uncertain future of public spending on justice.
Abstract
In austerity Britain, the contested policies that cut legal aid funding and court system financing threaten justice and the rule of law, the very core of the British judicial system, which is admired and respected worldwide. Thus, it is necessary to identify and to analyse critically policies that affect law and justice, the impacts of such policies and resistance to them. This chapter explores changes to legal aid and justice financing as well as reversals, government justifications for changes and the response of the judiciary and lawyers as a basis for its reflective narrative on the state of the judicial system. As a case study of the wider debate on austerity-through-policy in Britain, the chapter reviews recent legal aid reform and so-called ‘discount justice’ in England and Wales. Particular focus is given to the impact, or likely impact, austerity policies have on the availability of legal aid for criminal cases, and the uncertain future of public spending on justice.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Tables v
- Notes on Contributors vi
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
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The Politics and Culture of Austerity: Impacts and Resistance
- The Contracting State: Austerity and Public Services 19
- Breaking Britain’s Working Class: the Left Out 33
- Political Activism and Agency under Austerity and Brexit 45
- Culture Matters: Cuts and Resistance 59
- Agents and Agency in the Face of Austerity and Brexit Uncertainty: the Case of Legal Aid 73
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The Politics and Discourse of Brexit
- The Economy of Brexit: Performance, Interests and Agency 89
- Brexit Populism: Disenfranchisement and Agency 103
- A Sovereign People? Political Fantasy and Governmental Time in the Pursuit of Brexit 117
- ‘Not an International Health Service’: Xenophobia, Brexit and the Restoration of National Sovereignty 131
- ‘Uni-Culti’ Myths and Liberal Dreams: Brexit and Austerity from the Perspective of Migrants 145
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Austerity and Brexit in a Divided Union
- From Brexit to the Break-Up of ... England? Thinking in and Beyond the Nation 161
- Understanding Brexit in Wales: Austerity, Elites and National Identity 175
- Scotland, Brexit and the Broken Promise of Democracy 189
- Brexit, Devolution and Northern Ireland’s Political Parties: Differential Solutions, Special Status or Special Arrangements? 203
- More Than the Border? Looking at Brexit through Irish Eyes 219
- Conclusion 233
- Index 247
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Tables v
- Notes on Contributors vi
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
-
The Politics and Culture of Austerity: Impacts and Resistance
- The Contracting State: Austerity and Public Services 19
- Breaking Britain’s Working Class: the Left Out 33
- Political Activism and Agency under Austerity and Brexit 45
- Culture Matters: Cuts and Resistance 59
- Agents and Agency in the Face of Austerity and Brexit Uncertainty: the Case of Legal Aid 73
-
The Politics and Discourse of Brexit
- The Economy of Brexit: Performance, Interests and Agency 89
- Brexit Populism: Disenfranchisement and Agency 103
- A Sovereign People? Political Fantasy and Governmental Time in the Pursuit of Brexit 117
- ‘Not an International Health Service’: Xenophobia, Brexit and the Restoration of National Sovereignty 131
- ‘Uni-Culti’ Myths and Liberal Dreams: Brexit and Austerity from the Perspective of Migrants 145
-
Austerity and Brexit in a Divided Union
- From Brexit to the Break-Up of ... England? Thinking in and Beyond the Nation 161
- Understanding Brexit in Wales: Austerity, Elites and National Identity 175
- Scotland, Brexit and the Broken Promise of Democracy 189
- Brexit, Devolution and Northern Ireland’s Political Parties: Differential Solutions, Special Status or Special Arrangements? 203
- More Than the Border? Looking at Brexit through Irish Eyes 219
- Conclusion 233
- Index 247
