Escaping from the fantasy politics of Saturday, Monday was about the compensation culture. David Davies followed up his speech of last week with some flesh to the policy.
It is notable and interesting that the former Master of the Rolls had recently commented that the compensation culture was a growing and dangerous path.
Like many things I can only relate personal experience. Five years ago I was involved in an accident at the lights at Tolworth roundabout. The lights changed green and the car in front moved forwards and then stalled. At 2 or 3 mph I went into the rear of the car scratching the bumper. Within weeks the insurance company was faced with a claim for a ‘written off’ car and driver whiplash injuries. Because of the way insurance companies work they settled for about £8k rather than fight an expensive case. Fighting it would be expensive in costs if not in the final outcome. Frankly that is an abuse and a shining example of the compensation culture.
However I think David is talking of wider issues to do with the review of the Human Rights Act. I believe it good practice to review all legislation some time after implementation to ensure that it does what it set out to do. All I have heard today is a procession of highly paid barristers, who undertake this work, saying how this is not acceptable. Still, I suppose we all get defensive when a proposal threatens our livelihood, no matter how good it is for the people we serve.
There are obviously genuine cases where compensation is due and it is the job of all of us to find a way where the rights of the genuine claimant can be preserved whilst curtailing the rights of those who abuse the system. Seems a pretty good mantra for a number of areas of life and politics.
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