Exclusive: Gove must pause 'damaging' two-tier proposals, says Karl Turner MP

The justice secretary, Michael Gove, has been urged to 'push back' his timetable for the roll out of the government's 'damaging' two-tier legal aid contracts.

Karl Turner MP has written to the Lord Chancellor, pressing him reconsider the introduction of the controversial contracts and suggesting he once again parley with criminal practitioner groups to discuss alternatives.

The letter comes ahead of what has been dubbed 'D-day' for criminal lawyers. Solicitors across the country have been waiting this week to discover if their firms are among the 500 practices expected to be put out of business when the government reveals the results of its tender programme for new legal aid contracts.

The shadow solicitor general says there was a possibility the reforms would risk leaving members of the public unrepresented and damage the UK's 'internationally renowned' criminal justice system.

Turner also raises concerns that the continuing fall in expenditure on legal aid by government was attributable to a fall in the volume of cases, and when combined with court closures may have undermined the legal aid duty contract bidding process.

'Firms will have factored into their bids these statistical assumptions of a compensatory higher current volume of cases that now no longer apply,' writes Turner.

'The court closures, apart from inconveniencing the public, will of course affect the viability of firms having to cover larger geographical areas as these local courts unexpectedly close.'

These two issues will cause advice deserts, adds Turner, which would hit firms financially.

Turner admits he does not dispute the government's need to consider consolidation, but does question how firms will be able to sustain further fee changes at a time they will also be dealing with falling work volumes.

The East Hull MP concludes by urging Gove to push back his timetable until a proper consideration is given to the proposals put forward by criminal practitioners.

Last week, Labour announced an immediate review of legal aid to be headed by Lord Bach, who is to be assisted by Turner.

An MoJ spokesperson said: 'Legal aid is a vital part of our justice system. The new duty contracts will put legal aid on a sustainable footing for the future and ensure it remains available to those in need of a lawyer.'

Read Turner's letter in full below.