WARRINGTON South MP David Mowat has welcomed the new restrictions on the amount of legal aid available to foreign citizens who bring actions against armed forces personnel.
The announcement by the Justice Secretary of a new Residence Test follows the recent partial collapse of the Al-Sweady inquiry into allegations of torture and brutality by British soliders in Iraq.
A number of the original claims have since been dropped but the MoD has been left footing the bill for defending itself.
A recent Parliamentary Question from Mr Mowat established that around £4m of taxpayers’ money had been paid to just two firms of solicitors bringing the claims.
Mowat said: “No country in the world would spend such ridiculous amounts of money on paying lawyers to sue its own Army.
“If ambulance-chasing lawyers wish to make frivolous claims against the Army, they should do so at their own expense and not expect the taxpayer to pick up the tab.
“I’m delighted that this Government is now looking to protect members of our Armed Forces. Warrington contributes a number of excellent soldiers. We should all be very proud of what our men and women in uniform do for this country and this is one less thing for them to worry about.”
Mowat welcomes legal aid restrictions
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
