Government announces plans for Consumer Advocate to instigate class actions…

The Government has announced plans to introduce a new Consumer Advocate that would have the power to take class actions on behalf of consumers. The Government is concerned that consumers are unwilling to take legal action themselves and hopes this new body will act as a deterrent to people who think they can ride roughshod all over consumers. The Advocate would also act as a champion for all consumers and provide them with advice.

Paul Gershlick, editor of www.Upload-IT.com and a Principal at Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP, questions the effectiveness of this new body. ‘This country has enough quangos already. We need to cut the cost on spending on bureaucrats if we are to get public debt under control. This country has enough people championing consumer causes – from Which? through to the OFT and Trading Standards. There are also options in the commercial sector – there are plenty of law firms who are willing to collect consumers together to fight class actions. So why do we need yet another body paid for out of the public purse?’