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03 February 2016 / Dr Jon Robins
Categories: Opinion , Legal aid focus , Profession
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Under attack

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The fallout from the Al-Sweady inquiry represents another strike against justice, says Jon Robins

The relentless onslaught against the groundbreaking but controversial work of Leigh Day and Public Interest Lawyers on behalf of Iraqi civilians went into overdrive last month when David Cameron joined the fray and “ordered ministers”, as it was reported, to prevent lawyers pursuing claims against veterans.

Unpleasant undercurrent

According to Number 10, the prime minister was “deeply concerned at the large number of spurious claims being made against members of our armed forces”. The prime minister’s intervention is not “harassment” and yet there is a deeply unpleasant undercurrent to the constant attacks on the lawyers in these difficult cases.

The Tory MP Stewart Jackson used the protection of Parliamentary privilege to berate the new shadow defence minister Emily Thornberry for taking a donation from “the immoral, thieving and ambulance chasing lawyers” Leigh Day which, along with Public Interest Lawyers, were “hounding our brave service personnel in Iraq on spurious claims”.

Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers has been celebrated by fellow lawyers and, for his contribution in exposing serious human

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