Barristers accused of ‘letting down victims’ by voting to strike indefinitely

BARRISTERS were last night accused of letting down victims by voting to strike indefinitely.

Wig-wearing advocates in England and Wales yesterday decided to walk out after snubbing a 15 per cent government pay rise.

Tom Bowles / Story Picture Agency

Barristers have been accused of letting down victims by voting to strike indefinitely[/caption]

The Criminal Bar Association has been demanding an eye-watering 25 per cent salary increase for legal aid work.

Its members have been striking on alternate weeks since July but will now launch an all-out uninterrupted walkout from September 5.

Justice Minister Sarah Dines blasted the barristers for wreaking havoc on the courts and leaving cases in limbo.

She fumed: “This is an irresponsible decision that will only see more victims face further delays and distress.

“The escalation of strike action is wholly unjustified considering we are increasing criminal barristers’ fees by 15 per cent, which will see the typical barrister earn around £7,000 more a year.”

The average pay for barristers is between £55,900 and £63,900 after expenses, although junior lawyers start on just £12,800.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has not met with the CBA since its members started industrial action – and is on holiday until Thursday.

More than 6,000 court hearings have been disrupted because of the row over conditions and pay, according to government stats.

CBA vice chairwoman Kirsty Brimelow QC said this is “last-resort action” over a demand for less money than it costs the Government for the courts to sit empty.

She told BBC Breakfast: “The effect will be that the courts continue to sit empty with trials and cases not being heard. It is a last-resort action.

“The remedy is for an injection of money into the backlog of cases, which currently stands at 60,000 cases, that barristers are working on that will cost the Government only £1.1million per month.

“Currently, it’s costing much more for the courts to sit empty.”

Sir Keir Starmer accused the government of “doing absolutely nothing” to prevent the strikes but refused to clarify whether Labour MPs were allowed to join picket lines.