Criminal barristers vote for industrial action over legal aid funding

Ballot to refuse return cases in England and Wales from 11 April follows independent review's recommendation of 15% increase

Criminal barristers in England and Wales have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action beginning next month in protest over levels of legal aid funding.

A ballot by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) saw 94% of votes in favour of refusing to accept returns - where a barrister steps in to represent a defendant whose original barrister is unable to attend court - from 11 April.