THE SCOTTISH criminal justice system will be irreparably damaged unless more is done to stop ongoing cuts to Legal Aid, a prominent lawyer has warned.

Aamer Anwar, who was named Solicitor of the Year at The Herald’s Law Awards of Scotland in November, added that Scottish independence could be the only way to ensure that the poorest in society are given the financial means to defend themselves properly.

“For any government that comes in it is very easy to make a cut to the Legal Aid budget because people don’t realise that the cuts don’t just affect rapists but also anyone who has perhaps been wrongly accused of using their mobile phone in their car and who might lose their job if they lose their licence,” he said.

“There’s no point in saying this is the best criminal justice system in the world if you don’t fund it, but that doesn’t come on the cheap.

“We’re heading towards an American-style system where it will almost turn into a beauty parade – if you are well to do and come well prepared than you’ll win.

“I don’t want to live in a society where the rich can get the justice they want and the poor can’t.”

Mr Anwar’s comments come after the Scottish Government last month announced a cut to the Legal Aid budget from £136.9 million in 2016/17 to £135.2m in 2017/18, a move Law Society of Scotland president Eilidh Wiseman branded a “cause for concern”, particularly as the actual spend for 2016/17 is expected to be £138.4m. This is a drop from £161.4m in 2010/11.

However, Mr Anwar said that independence could halt the erosion of Legal Aid provision because it would allow Scotland to “mould the agenda in the way we want”.

“Budgets are limited in Scotland based on what Westminster gives us,” he added.