Criminal barristers vote in favour of strike action

updated on 22 November 2013

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has unanimously passed a motion proposing strike action if the government implements further criminal legal aid cuts.

As reported by the Law Society Gazette, the resolution was put forward by Mark George QC of Garden Court North at a CBA meeting. George urged his colleagues to support the motion, saying: “We are in a radical situation. It’s time to fix the bayonets because we are not going to go down without a fight”. The CBA has continued to voice its strong opposition to the legal aid cuts, as well as the proposed Quality Assurance Standards for Advocacy scheme.

Earlier this month, the Association said that 95% of barristers would not work at the reduced legal aid rates. At the most recent CBA meeting, the motion called by chair Nigel Lithman QC was also passed; this stated that senior barristers will not accept very high-cost case work paid at the revised rates and will return any work to which the rates apply.