Criminal barristers will continue with planned strike action despite the country entering a period of mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II - according to reports.
The UK's longest reigning monarch passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle on Thursday aged 96. Her tragic death means her son Charles III had now been named King.
A 10-day period of mourning began at midnight and will last until the Queen's funeral, with many events being cancelled or postponed as a mark of respect for Her Majesty.
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As the Crown Office advised courts that Queen's Counsel (QC) changes to King's Counsel (KC), the Criminal Bar Association confirmed planned strike action will continue during the mourning period.
But planned protests due to take place next week outside courts and Parliament have been cancelled as a mark of respect, a CBA spokesperson told the London Evening Standard.
In a statement last night, Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: "The Criminal Bar Association joins with legal professions across the Commonwealth in mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
"We pay tribute to the Queen’s steadfast and true public service and offer our deep condolences to His Majesty the King and the Royal Family. We mark with sorrow and dedication to justice the change of Queen’s Counsel to King’s Counsel."
Last month, criminal barristers in England and Wales voted in favour of an all-out strike, which commenced on Monday (September 5).
Members of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) have been walking out on alternate weeks as part of a dispute with the Government over jobs and pay. According to figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), more than 6,000 court hearings have been disrupted as a result of the dispute over conditions and Government-set fees for legal aid advocacy work.
Ms Brimelow KC said this was "last-resort action" over a demand for less money than it costs the Government for the courts to sit empty.
Elsewhere, The Royal Mail cancelled a planned strike for Friday, the Communication Workers Union announced. Meanwhile, members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have suspended strikes due for September 15 and 17 following the Queen’s death.
Its general secretary Mick Lynch said: "RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth. The planned railway strike action on September 15 and 17 is suspended. We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the country."
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and train drivers union Aslef also suspended the strikes. A Network Rail spokesman said: "We welcome the unions’ decision to call off next week’s strikes and we join them and the rest of the railway family in sending our condolences to the royal family."
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