Andy Slaughter, a prominent barrister and former shadow justice minister, has been appointed the new chair of the Justice Select Committee.
The Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, Andy Slaughter, emerged victorious with 400 votes against Mike Tapp’s 149. Tapp, a recently elected Labour MP, previously served in the intelligence corps, the National Crime Agency, and a counter-terrorism position at the Ministry of Defence. Slaughter succeeds Sir Bob Neill, who stood down after a distinguished tenure as the Conservative chair.
In his speech, Slaughter expressed concern for the state of the justice system, describing it as a ‘neglected public service’ under successive governments. He pointed out the crises in prisons and courts, as well as a scarcity of legal professionals and efficient systems. Highlighting the existence of ‘advice deserts’ across the UK, Slaughter noted the lack of early legal advice and representation that impedes access to justice in civil, family, and criminal cases.
Slaughter further emphasized the role of the Justice Select Committee in scrutinising proposed solutions, identifying weaknesses, and interrogating policymakers and system managers. He identified unresolved issues that demand the committee’s attention, such as indeterminate IPP sentences, miscarriages of justice, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the coronial service, serious fraud prosecutions, and SLAPPS.
With a background in both criminal and civil law, Andy Slaughter first entered Parliament in 2005. His experience includes serving as a shadow justice minister and shadow Solicitor General, as well as participating in the Westminster Commission on Legal Aid. He co-chairs the all-party parliamentary group on access to justice and has gained support from notable figures such as Emily Thornberry, Karl Turner, and Jeremy Wright.
The President of the Law Society, Nick Emmerson, welcomed Slaughter’s election, acknowledging the committee’s crucial role during the justice system crisis. Emmerson urged focus on reducing court backlogs and addressing the exodus of legal professionals. Meanwhile, Matthew Maxwell Scott of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations called for renewed attention to civil justice issues. He noted that unfinished inquiries from the previous committee regarding delays in the county court and the Official Injury Claim portal needed revisiting.
Given the breadth of challenges facing the justice system, Andy Slaughter’s leadership of the Justice Select Committee is set to be pivotal in guiding reform and addressing systemic issues.
