Aamer Anwar & Co to stop taking legal aid cases

Mr Anwar said that he made the decision due to the “decimation” of the legal aid system in Scotland.

“We have senior counsel in Scotland, advocates who are saying they’re not going to do sexual crimes anymore,” he said.

“They’re not going to do rape cases because of underfunding. The pendulum has swung so far, and the lack of legal aid defence lawyers is creating a backlog, impacting victims of sexual crime.”

He added: “We’re literally getting paid nothing. I don’t expect people to feel sorry for lawyers, but when you need one, you’ll know it. This government just isn’t interested, and many of my colleagues are walking away.”

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I do have to say that for this financial year alone I am anticipating the legal aid budget to reach its highest-ever level. The projected spend on legal aid for this financial year will be £171m.

“We have increased the resources available for legal aid. Legal aid is a demand-led budget. Unlike England and Wales, we have not reduced the scope or the resources for legal aid.

“Legal aid fees have increased by 25 per cent since 2019 and I and the victims minister Siobhian Brown will continue to work with the legal profession because I accept that criminal defence work is demanding, both professionally and personally. We want to collaborate with the profession in terms of building better for the future.”

Defence solicitor Matthew McGovern commented: “Whilst we are all entitled to our own opinions, we are not entitled to our own facts and the government is attempting to have their own facts. Even accepting there has been an increase in criminal legal aid spending to £90m, criminal legal aid spending is lower in cash terms than it was a decade ago. 

“During the same period, spending on the prosecution service has increased from £109.9m in 2013/14 to £180.9m in 2022/23. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the government has deliberately underfunded legal aid in an attempt to increase the number of convictions.”