This blog will be closing shortly …

I’ve spent a year blogging here. It’s been good fun, but I’ve decided that it’s time to move on …

… so Alex’s Archives is moving to a new home at alexsarchives.org

We’re up and running over there with all the content you’re familiar with. But in time I will be looking to enhance the functionality of the site.

At the moment the new site has got a radically different new look. But I’ve not entirely made up my mind about that. So it’s very much a work in progress.

Goodbye for now. Hopefully see you over there soon.

Criminalising squatting

[Originally posted at Liberal Democrat Voice, 01/11/11]

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offender Bill has returned to the House of Commons this week. The problems with the Government’s proposed Legal Aid reforms have been apparent for a while. Some people will see their access to justice seriously curtailed, while the courts are likely to silt up with inexpert litigants-in-person. The chances of any money being saved – when considered in the round – are limited. In this context it is good to see reports that Liberal Democrat MPs Tom Brake and Mike Crockart are tabling amendments to seek to address some of the most egregious injustices embodied in this part of the Bill.

But the Bill poses other profound challenges to those concerned with social justice and evidence-based policy making.