‘Sound Off For Justice’ Launches First-Ever Voicemail Protest
Campaign against Legal Aid cuts offers British public the chance to ‘sound off’ to Ken Clarke’s voicemail, as voiced by impressionist Alistair McGowan
©Sound Off For Justice
Alistair McGowan has recorded an impression of Ken Clarke for Sound Off For Justice’s voicemail protest
Sound Off For Justice will launch the UK’s first-ever voicemail protest on Thursday 31st March. Members of the public will be able to voice their discontent with the Government’s proposed cuts to Legal Aid by leaving a rant on Ken Clarke’s voicemail, voiced by impressionist Alistair McGowan.
All messages left will be sent to the caller’s local MP and Ken Clarke himself, so that he can hear the public’s disdain first-hand. If the Secretary of State for Justice’s plans go ahead, many of Britain’s most vulnerable citizens will effectively be silenced in court.
Sound Off For Justice is focused on getting the public to put pressure on the Government to reconsider proposed cuts to Legal Aid, which are ill-conceived and unfair. As it stands, several key areas, including clinical negligence and family issues, are due to be totally culled, meaning there will be no support – regardless of the strength or worthiness of the case. This could affect whole segments of society, from the divorcing father who might lose all access to his kids to the elderly lady who won’t be able to do anything about her botched leg operation. The campaign is proposing alternative reforms that, whilst making the required savings, will protect Legal Aid funding for millions of Britons.
The public can leave a voicemail message for Ken Clarke by visiting the campaign’s website at www.soundoffforjustice.org and entering their full name, postcode and contact number. Ken Clarke, voiced by McGowan will then call back and ask the caller to leave a ‘sound off’ voicemail message detailing why they are upset by the proposed cuts. Brits can also text ‘soundoff’ to 60777* to show their support and be prompted to leave a voicemail. All the public need to do is rant for up to 30 seconds and press the hash (#) key to finish their message. Once completed, messages will be streamed live via the Sound Off For Justice website.
Jemima Khan, Joanna Lumley, Shadow Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan MP, Harriet Harman MP, Tracey Ullman, The Gurkhas, Thomasina Miers, Alistair McGowan, Jenny Éclair and Michael Mansfield QC back Sound Off For Justice. Many of which can be heard saying their piece on the campaign website.
“How can people be empowered to enforce their rights if they don’t have access to the courts for employment, housing benefit and so on. There’ll be no service once these cuts come in. People should join Sound Off For Justice’s campaign for alternative reforms, that will mean savings can be made but without jeopardising access to justice.”
Michael Mansfield QC, Legal Aid Barrister of 42 years
Sound Off For Justice is asking members of the public, organisations that will be affected, and politicians opposed to the Legal Aid cuts in their current guise, to ‘sound off’ if they believe in the right to be heard.
Visit www.soundoffforjustice.org for more information.
*Texts will be charged at a standard message rate
Sound Off For Justice is a public campaign promoting alternative reforms to Legal Aid. Visit www.soundoffforjustice.co.uk for more details.