FORUM: Imran Khan - Time for People’s Charter is now

Published: 29 July, 2010

WE all knew that a huge social battle was coming and lawyers were only a part of it. But there is now an alternative to the huge attacks on ordinary working people, argues Imran Khan

• IT is not often that lawyers deserve attention or sympathy especially when they are complaining about a cut in their income.

However, the announcement of proposed massive cuts to legal aid and plans to close 157 courts deserves attention, if not immediate sympathy.

As a legal aid lawyer based in the London Borough of Camden I have seen first-hand the dramatic impact of the declining availability of legal aid to an increasing number of people in society.

And it is those who are vulnerable and without a voice that are most affected by these measures at a time when they should be most protected.

Without public funding, legal aid lawyers are not able to take on the sorts of cases which seek to challenge perceived injustices and make this country a better place to live for all of us.

Indeed, it is often the sacrifices of the few that have led to substantial changes for the many.

I am, of course, talking about cases such as Stephen Lawrence, Zahid Mubarek and Victoria Climbie to name but a few.

Each of these cases involved personal tragedy which, with immense sacrifice and determination from the families, led to far- reaching changes in our most important institutions – the police, prisons and social services.

It was within this context that some principled politicians, campaign activists, trade union leaders and celebrities gathered at the House of Commons in January 2009 and launched The People’s Charter.

It was still early days in the financial crisis as far as most of us were concerned. But we all knew that a huge social battle was coming.

And lawyers were only a part of it.

The banks were in crisis and the government had found billions of pounds to save them.

The dust had not settled and an election was looming.

Anybody with any sense knew that someone would be asked to pay.

When, in 1945, Britain had proportionately similar debts after the Second World War, the government had nevertheless built the foundations of a welfare state out of austerity.

In the lead-up to the election of the “Con-Dem coalition”, none of the main parties stood for that sort of approach.

So, something had to be done.

The People’s Charter brought together six key principles outlining how a modern economy and society could be built in the interests of all of us and not just a select few.

The initial signatories then, ranging from Doreen Lawrence (the mother of Stephen Lawrence) to Bob Crow (of the RMT union) and John McDonnell MP, and the thousands who have signed since, believe that there is an alternative to the huge attacks on ordinary working people.

Pensions, benefits, health, education, investment could all be done better.

Wealth creation and wealth distribution could be fairer.

But not by levelling down and not by turning over our social safety net to the market.

And certainly not by scooping out the living standards of the bottom 60 per cent of society.

Leading economists across the globe are already nervous that Britain’s cuts threaten a new 1930s.

Already the unfairness in society rankles with many in society as bankers’ bonuses reach pre-crash levels while millions face wage cuts and reduced pensions.

After the initial novelty of coalition politics we can now all see the face of insecurity, decline and fear.

The People’s Charter aims at a million signatures.

We are starting to build a new movement across the country, linking up all those now starting to fight the cuts, to get organised, to think and talk about how the bankers’ crisis should really be dealt with.

Local charter groups are starting up.

In many areas organisations like the local trades councils are taking the lead.

The website – thepeoplescharter.org – has hundreds of hits every day.

As the son of an immigrant growing up in the east end of London I was acutely aware of social injustice on a daily basis.

Having become a lawyer I tried to take on cases which would ensure that such injustice was simply a childhood memory.

Often that can be done in a court room setting but when the injustice is so widespread and pernicious the obligation to fight it within a wider movement becomes overwhelming.

I saw The People’s Charter as a practical vision of fairness and hope.

That is why it has my support.

• Imran Khan is a senior human rights solicitor based in Theobalds Road, Holborn