Karl Turner MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister, responding to the reports that the procurement process for legal aid duty contracts has been mishandled, said:

“The Government has made a complete mess of this procurement process.

“Reports that bids were handled by inexperienced, temporary staff and that staff were put under undue pressure are deeply worrying.

“Labour, practitioners and experts warned from the start that this was a flawed policy but Ministers pushed ahead regardless.

“With many firms now thinking of challenging the process in the courts, the Government really need to get their act together.”