Rob Rinder would ‘without question’ strike with fellow barristers as they walk out over legal aid fees and working conditions-Louise Griffin-Entertainment – Metro

Rob Rinder has said he would ‘without question’ strike with his fellow barristers.

On Monday, barristers across the country walked out in support of the Criminal Bar Association’s (CBA) action against current fees for legal aid advocacy work.

The broadcaster and criminal barrister, known for his TV show Judge Rinder, passionately defended the strike.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he pointed out that many barristers get into their jobs because of a belief in the right of law in the UK – not for the money.

Rob added: ‘If I were – I am – still a member of my great chambers, I would be, without question, on strike.’

Speaking out for those starting out, he said: ‘I’m not the youngest members of the bar, that start the bar in over £100,000 of debt and on £12,000 a year.’

‘Let’s talk about what democracy we are. If there’s no access, no rule of law…our justice is meaningless,’ he added.

Rob Rinder spoke out about the strikes (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)

Barristers went on strike on Monday (Picture: PA)

Rob went on to argue that many lawyers are not in it for the money.

‘Lawyers who do this sort of work – not the fat cats – the reality is, they don’t want to strike,’ he added.

‘They don’t go into it to be rich. They go into it because they believe in this country and the rule of law.’

Jo Sidhu, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said of the strikes on Monday: ‘Right now we are engulfed in a crisis of epic proportions that had never afflicted this country previously, which has brought almost to a standstill the system that we all love.

‘Last year, we lost another 300 criminal barristers, why? Because they could not do this job anymore on what they were being paid, and for the hours that they were toiling.

‘These shortages in manpower are causing increasing misery to victims and those accused who are desperately waiting, sometimes for years, to get justice and to see their cases finally resolved in court.’

Although the strikes centre around a proposed 15% uplift in fees, which the CBA has described as ‘insufficient’ following a 30% drop in incomes over the last two decades, barristers have also described a justice system devastated by defunding of its essential parts.

In a submission to the Treasury as part of its spending review, the Bar Council found publicly funded criminal barristers earn less than £13,000 per year pre-tax during their first two-years of practice.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.

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