The Civil Liability Bill and the package of measures associated with it will mean that every year hundreds of thousands of workers and road users injured through no fault of their own will not have access to free independent legal help due to an unjustified increase in the small claims limit from £1,000 to £2,000 for all injuries and to £5,000 for road traffic accidents.

At this year’s Labour Party Conference, the Chief Executive of Thompsons Solicitors Stephen Cavalier will chair a meeting to discuss the Bill and its impact on access to justice.

Thompsons Solicitors has been campaigning against the small claims limit increase and our Feeding Fat Cats campaign has been calling for the government to stop punishing the injured and enriching the insurance industry.

Stephen Cavalier will be discussing the threat with Paddy Lillis, General Secretary of USDAW, and Ellie Reeves, the MP for Lewisham West and Penge and member of the Justice Select Committee.

Chief Executive Stephen Cavalier, who will chair the fringe event, explains the impact of the Civil Liability Bill

Paddy Lillis, General Secretary of USDAW, said: "The proposed reforms are unfair, unnecessary and will significantly restrict access to justice for injured workers in England and Wales. The Government is forcing more injured workers into the small claims court, where the costs of legal representation cannot be recovered from negligent employers. The only beneficiaries will be unscrupulous employers and claims management companies."

Ellie Reeves, MP for Lewisham West and Penge, said: "The Civil Liability Bill, as it currently stands, will take away the right to free legal advice for hundreds of thousands of people injured at work or on the roads every year whose claims have nothing to do with whiplash."

There is still time to stop these measures being implemented. The fringe aims to discuss not only the threat that they represent but the most effective ways to oppose that threat.

The fringe event will take place on Sunday 23 September at 17:30 in Hall 2, Room 2 of the Liverpool ACC.