Labour Manifesto 2017

JUSTICE
e all need access to the ustice
system to protect us from those
who would deny us our rights.
Labour will set out to mae Britain
a fair society with liberties for all,
governed by the rule of law, and in
which the law is enforced equally.
The Conservatives threaten our
Human Rights Act and may withdraw
us from the European Convention of
Human ights. Labour will retain the
Human Rights Act.
Justice is all too often denied.
Too many ordinary people know
this. There are football fans, trade
unionists, environmental activists
and people living with disabilities
whose personal experiences
provide first-hand testimony.
Labour will hold public inuiries
into historic injustices. We will
open inquiries into Orgreave and
blacklisting. We will release all
papers relating to the Shrewsbury
24 trials and the 37 Cammell Laird
shipyard workers.
Justice today has become the
preserve of the rich. Budget cuts
mean that thousands are deprived
of fair resolutions. Justice is eroded
by the poor decisions of privatised
assessments, by the withdrawal of
legal aid, by the removal of appeal
rights, by the delays arising from
overcrowded courts and by the
costs of fees.
Eligibility for legal aid has been
withdrawn across a whole range
of areas. This has had disturbing
consequences for the delivery
of justice.
Democracy is founded upon the
rule of law and judicial independence.
We will also review the judicial
appointments process, to ensure a
judiciary that is more representative
of our society.
Labour will immediately
re-establish early advice entitlements
in the Family Courts. The shameful
consequences of withdrawal have
included a requirement for victims
of domestic abuse to pay doctors for
certification of their injuries. Labour’s
plans will remove that requirement.
At the same time, we will legislate
to prohibit the cross examination of
victims of domestic violence by their
abuser in certain circumstances.
We will reintroduce funding for the
preparation of judicial review cases.
Judicial review is an important way
of holding government to account.
There are sufficient safeguards to
discourage unmeritorious cases.
We will review the legal aid means
tests, including the capital test for
those on income-related benefits.
80 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW