Helen Grant MP: The people's champion

OBV applauds MP's campaign to defend legal aid

In her first major political intervention coupled with an article since becoming an MP, Helen Grant, the Conservatives first woman of African descent has come out fighting for society’s most vulnerable.

In a courageous move she demands that her Government tread careful so that they do not leave the most vulnerable people in society in an even worse situation by dramatically cutting legal aid.

In an impassioned plea to her own Government’s proposals she argues that the present proposals could have a ‘devastating effect’ on the poorest in society. And she should know. For the past 15 years she has run a firm of solicitors who work in the often unglamorous side of the law representing family and social welfare clients, who without legal aid could never afford justice in the courts.

We at OBV would be proud of any BME politician making this argument for those who are least able to defend themselves, but of course we are particularly pleased because Helen Grant MP is an Operation Black Vote alumni.

We sincerely hope the coalition Government listens to Helen Grant - a champion of the people - reasoned argument.

We urge readers and supporters to lobby their local MPs and help make this an issue in that the Government cannot easily ignore.

Simon Woolley