McArthur warns against SNP seeking control over legal profession

Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government’s Bill on reforming legal services regulation and warnings from the Law Society that new proposed powers allowing Scottish Ministers to intervene and direct regulators are “deeply alarming” and risk seriously undermining the independence of the legal regulation from the state, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

“At the very point the party of government is being investigated by the police, SNP Ministers seem intent on increasing their control over the legal profession.

"Of course, the Roberton review and work by organisations such as Which? show that the regulation of legal services needs to be modernised to better serve both the public and the profession.

“However, as it stands this bill grants unprecedented powers for ministerial meddling.

“While enhancing professional standards and reforming the complaints process is long overdue, lawyers must be able to challenge governments on behalf of their clients without looking over one shoulder at how ministers might react.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats will do everything we can to ensure the transparency and accessibility of the complaints process while robustly opposing any provisions that put inappropriate powers in the hands of Ministers.”