Lord Falconer, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to reports of Michael Gove’s speech to the Legatum Institute, said:

“People will be bemused by the sight of the Justice Secretary complaining of a two nation justice system.

“Since the Tories took office access to justice has been all but dismantled for the poorest in our society. The number of social welfare cases being granted funding has plummeted, victims of domestic violence are struggling to get help, employment tribunal fees are a significant barrier to workplace justice and the essential safeguard that is judicial review has been severely restricted.

“Labour has long called for the rights of victims of crime to be enshrined in law – so it is welcome that the government is finally waking up to this issue.

“Instead of hand-wringing rhetoric he should get on with developing the evidence based cost effective solutions we need to improve access to justice for all.”