Legal Services Bill [Lords]

First, yes, I speak on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. Secondly, my speech is not a eulogy to the legal professions. I have made it clear that the legal profession has a good reputation in this country, but it has also had its significant failures, and I started by saying that that is why we are in the Chamber debating the Bill. We are trying to get a structure. We have supported there being clear, regulatory objectives. That is a good thing. We have supported there being a legal services board—an overarching regulatory authority. That is a good thing. We have supported the separation of representation and regulation. That is a good thing. We have also supported there being one door to a legal complaints service. None of that is a eulogy to or defence of the current position or the past practices of the major professions—the Bar and solicitors—or any other relevant profession. This is not about taking a defensive position, it is about making sure that we respect what works and put it in the context of an accountable and better-to-use service that gives citizens the rights that they expect.