Letter: No win, no fee

Sir: You report ("Irvine defiant over legal aid shake-up", 19 November) the determination of the Government, via the Lord Chancellor, to continue the wrecking of legal aid begun by the last government.

It is thoroughly cynical to pretend that solicitors will be able to offer a "no win, no fee" scheme for the majority of cases and that is particularly true of those who, for years, have operated the legal aid scheme on lower fees than are paid by privately paying clients and who have accepted lower incomes accordingly. They have also voluntarily operated pro bono publico litigation, in deserving cases. But you have to earn enough to enable you to work, at times, for nothing. This the Government seems to be intent upon making impossible, and the public will suffer.

STANLEY BEST

Winkleigh, Devon