On behalf of the MA, Richard Monkhouse has written to the new Justice Select Committee Chairman, Bob Neill MP, to welcome him to his new post following his election today.
Representatives from the MA often appear before relevant Select Committees in Parliament to give evidence on issues relating to criminal justice policy and the role of magistrates within the justice system as a whole. Earlier this year, the MA was credited with having heavily influenced the Home Affairs Select Committee report into out-of-court disposals.
About Bob Neill MP
Mr Neill, a barrister, was first elected in 2006 and was elected for a second term as MP for Bromley & Chislehurst in 2010 and again in 2015. He served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government (2010-12), with responsibilities for the Fire Service, Thames Gateway, the Olympics, local government and planning. In September 2012, he was made Vice Chairman of the Conservative party for Local Government.
Here we go again with the truth and nothing but the truth from the M.A. What it fails to do is state explicitly that this new person of influence always votes for the government. Of course many M.P.s for various reasons, some fair and some most foul, always vote in the government lobbies but in this case he voted for all of Chris Graylings changes to the legal aid system; changes which the vast majority of magistrates oppposed. Such is the person the M.A. will be toadying up to.
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