The government has been accused of ‘brainwashing’ the public into believing that there is a compensation culture amid the extension to the claims portal coming into force yesterday.
Speaking at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady launched an assault on the governments conduct regarding the enforcement of the reforms saying: “The government is trying to brainwash people into reforms that will stop injured people receiving the damages they deserve.
“The true government motive here is to weaken health and safety laws and make it harder for victims to pursue claims.”
Yesterday saw the claims portal extended so that employers and public liability claims worth less than £25,000 will go through the out of court online portal, with fixed costs for solicitors running them.
Justice Minister, Helen Grant, defended the government’s policy claiming that the government were ‘turning the tide on the compensation culture’ and insisted that they were still ensuring genuine victims could still receive compensation for their claims.
She also said that the changes would relieve schools, businesses and councils across the country as they will no longer be deterred from staging activities where there is risk of injury.
She said: “We are turning the tide on the compensation culture which has pushed up the cost of insurance for drivers, schools and business – and taking another important step to reducing the cost of living for ordinary people.”
Yesterdays portal extension is the latest reform to be implemented the government, allegedly aimed at reducing the cost of civil litigation. Hopefully the Transport Select Committees findings this week will bring to a halt the next planned reforms the government has proposed regarding increasing the small claims limit.