UK Justice Select Committee criticizes government legal aid response

The UK Justice Select Committee has labeled the government’s response to its access to justice report as “disappointing” and “inadequate.” The committee warned that legal aid is currently “a service in managed decline,” posing an unacceptably high risk of miscarriages of justice due to rising self-representation and declining availability.

In a joint statement, MPs noted that the government failed to indicate which of the 28 recommendations it accepts or rejects, providing no specific plans or timescales for implementation. The original report, published in July 2026, proposed reforms such as adjusting income and capital thresholds and removing means tests for certain civil cases, including representation for children.

Legal advice charities, including Law Centres Network, AdviceUK, AdviceNow, and Manchester Justice Hub, expressed dismay that the government has not accepted a single recommendation. These organizations argued that the proposed changes regarding eligibility, fees, and provider capacity were essential for a practical recovery of the system.