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| David Cameron: Justice for all – unless you're an immigrant | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The prime minister revealed on Wednesday that access to justice was another of a growing list of public services that ministers were trying to reorganise to restrict access for new immigrants to Britain. | The prime minister revealed on Wednesday that access to justice was another of a growing list of public services that ministers were trying to reorganise to restrict access for new immigrants to Britain. |
| From April, the coalition government has already axed the right of foreigners to claim legal aid for immigration cases. David Cameron's latest comments have now raised speculation that ministers could mount a further assault on legal aid, targeting the existing rights of foreign nationals – from illegal immigrants to tourists – to get financial support if they are implicated in a court case while in the UK. | From April, the coalition government has already axed the right of foreigners to claim legal aid for immigration cases. David Cameron's latest comments have now raised speculation that ministers could mount a further assault on legal aid, targeting the existing rights of foreign nationals – from illegal immigrants to tourists – to get financial support if they are implicated in a court case while in the UK. |
| Speaking just a day after the planning minister, Nick Boles, said he was nervous about the impact of immigration on public services and housing, Cameron said many parts of the system needed addressing as part of a ministerial push to reduce Britain's "pull factor" for incomers. | Speaking just a day after the planning minister, Nick Boles, said he was nervous about the impact of immigration on public services and housing, Cameron said many parts of the system needed addressing as part of a ministerial push to reduce Britain's "pull factor" for incomers. |
| With growing pressure from Conservative backbenchers and traditionally Tory media over the issue ahead of the lifting of restrictions on nationals from Bulgaria and Romania at the end of this year, the prime minister this week chaired a special cabinet meeting on the subject. | With growing pressure from Conservative backbenchers and traditionally Tory media over the issue ahead of the lifting of restrictions on nationals from Bulgaria and Romania at the end of this year, the prime minister this week chaired a special cabinet meeting on the subject. |
| "Britain has always been an open and welcoming economy, but it isn't right if our systems are being abused," he told MPs at prime minister's questions. "We're going to look at every single one of our systems: housing, health and benefits, and make sure we're not a soft touch for those that want to come here. | "Britain has always been an open and welcoming economy, but it isn't right if our systems are being abused," he told MPs at prime minister's questions. "We're going to look at every single one of our systems: housing, health and benefits, and make sure we're not a soft touch for those that want to come here. |
| "There are many parts of our current arrangements that simply don't pass a simple commonsense test in terms of access to housing, access to the health service, and access to justice and other things, which should be the right of all British citizens but they are not the right of anyone who just chooses to come here." | "There are many parts of our current arrangements that simply don't pass a simple commonsense test in terms of access to housing, access to the health service, and access to justice and other things, which should be the right of all British citizens but they are not the right of anyone who just chooses to come here." |
| No 10 later refused to be drawn on details of how "access to justice" and other services could be restricted, insisting that "this is the beginning of the process" of ministers studying their options. | No 10 later refused to be drawn on details of how "access to justice" and other services could be restricted, insisting that "this is the beginning of the process" of ministers studying their options. |
| However the comments focused attention on the often controversial legal aid budget – an issue highlighted by reports that Abu Qatada, once described as Osama bin Laden's right hand man, had received more than half a million pounds to help fight the government's attempts to deport him for being "a serious risk to our national security". | However the comments focused attention on the often controversial legal aid budget – an issue highlighted by reports that Abu Qatada, once described as Osama bin Laden's right hand man, had received more than half a million pounds to help fight the government's attempts to deport him for being "a serious risk to our national security". |
| The coalition has already introduced legislation to axe legal aid for immigration cases such as Abu Qatada's as part of £350m of cuts which come into force in April, and the justice secretary Chris Grayling has signalled he will study the scheme for further cuts after that. | The coalition has already introduced legislation to axe legal aid for immigration cases such as Abu Qatada's as part of £350m of cuts which come into force in April, and the justice secretary Chris Grayling has signalled he will study the scheme for further cuts after that. |
| Cameron's comments on Wednesday raise the prospect that any future review is more likely to look at further restrictions to the rights of foreign nationals to claim legal aid, from a situation where currently applications for funding are judged without taking "nationality, residency or citizenship" into consideration. | Cameron's comments on Wednesday raise the prospect that any future review is more likely to look at further restrictions to the rights of foreign nationals to claim legal aid, from a situation where currently applications for funding are judged without taking "nationality, residency or citizenship" into consideration. |
| Steve Hynes, director of the Legal Action Group which monitors cuts to legal aid, said he was unaware of any plans to cut legal aid to foreign nationals: "David Cameron can promise it, but is it possible?" he said. "Is the prime minister saying that foreigners are not entitled to a fair trial? | Steve Hynes, director of the Legal Action Group which monitors cuts to legal aid, said he was unaware of any plans to cut legal aid to foreign nationals: "David Cameron can promise it, but is it possible?" he said. "Is the prime minister saying that foreigners are not entitled to a fair trial? |
| "It would be a minefield. It's an intrinsic part of our legal part of system that all those who face charges are entitled to a defence. If they haven't got the cash then there is state support for them. | "It would be a minefield. It's an intrinsic part of our legal part of system that all those who face charges are entitled to a defence. If they haven't got the cash then there is state support for them. |
| "Any changes would be open to challenge. Foreign nationals are entitled to legal aid in all sorts of contexts. He may have promised something but it sounds like he hasn't checked it with the Ministry of Justice." | "Any changes would be open to challenge. Foreign nationals are entitled to legal aid in all sorts of contexts. He may have promised something but it sounds like he hasn't checked it with the Ministry of Justice." |
| Both the Bar Council, which represents barristers, and the Ministry of Justice also said they did not know of any plans to restrict legal aid for those from overseas. | Both the Bar Council, which represents barristers, and the Ministry of Justice also said they did not know of any plans to restrict legal aid for those from overseas. |
| Separately, Cameron's attack on Brown's decision in 2007 to axe the lowest 10p tax rate in PMQs raised hopes among some campaigners, including the grassroots website Conservative Voice, that the government could be preparing to restore it. | Separately, Cameron's attack on Brown's decision in 2007 to axe the lowest 10p tax rate in PMQs raised hopes among some campaigners, including the grassroots website Conservative Voice, that the government could be preparing to restore it. |
| The Daily Mail has reported that senior ministers are "examining" the idea, though other sources have indicated that it would be too expensive at a time of deep budget cuts. | The Daily Mail has reported that senior ministers are "examining" the idea, though other sources have indicated that it would be too expensive at a time of deep budget cuts. |
| In their weekly encounter, the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, tackled Cameron on whether living standards would have risen or fallen by the next general election in 2015 because of rising prices and falling wages, and repeated the opposition's attack on the government for cutting the top rate of tax from April from 50p to 45p in the pound. | In their weekly encounter, the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, tackled Cameron on whether living standards would have risen or fallen by the next general election in 2015 because of rising prices and falling wages, and repeated the opposition's attack on the government for cutting the top rate of tax from April from 50p to 45p in the pound. |
| "Every week that goes by the evidence mounts against him on the economy," said Miliband, who was due to make a major speech on the subject on Thursday. | "Every week that goes by the evidence mounts against him on the economy," said Miliband, who was due to make a major speech on the subject on Thursday. |
| "There's a living standards crisis for the many and all he does is stand up for the few at the top." | "There's a living standards crisis for the many and all he does is stand up for the few at the top." |
| In what has become a familiar set of exchanges, Cameron countered by stressing that the top rate of tax was still higher than under the Labour government – which raised it from 40p to 50p just weeks before the 2010 general election – and that the coalition government with the Liberal Democrats was on course to raise the tax-free earnings threshold to £10,000 by the end of this parliament. | In what has become a familiar set of exchanges, Cameron countered by stressing that the top rate of tax was still higher than under the Labour government – which raised it from 40p to 50p just weeks before the 2010 general election – and that the coalition government with the Liberal Democrats was on course to raise the tax-free earnings threshold to £10,000 by the end of this parliament. |
| "No one in this country is in any doubt why we had to take difficult decisions: it was because of the mess left by him," added Cameron, referring to Miliband's role as an adviser to the former chancellor and prime minister, Gordon Brown, and later a minister in the last government. | "No one in this country is in any doubt why we had to take difficult decisions: it was because of the mess left by him," added Cameron, referring to Miliband's role as an adviser to the former chancellor and prime minister, Gordon Brown, and later a minister in the last government. |