Popular Conservative MP and Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove, is proposing to close 87 courts and four tribunal centres across England and Wales to see if it results in the complete collapse of the justice system.

Gove left Shailesh Vara, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State against for Courts and Legal Aid, to unveil the consultation yesterday. Vara said the closures would result in only 1% to 2% more of the population being unable to drive to their nearest court within an hour (currently 95% to 96% can). He also said, however, that in rural locations access to justice may require "alternative" means, including the internet and the temporary use of other civic buildings.

"I'm working with the tools I've got, guys"

Justifying the closures, Vara said that a third of courts sit empty for more than 50% of the working day. The MOJ predicts that the planned closures will save £30 million a year in running costs and rents. It also said that making staff redundant would save an additional £6 million, although the HM Courts and Tribunals service declined to tell RollOnFriday how many jobs were in danger. Instead a logically-minded spokesman said, "With fewer buildings we will need less staff to run them".

In a statement, court staff union PCS warned that 40% of courts will have closed since 2010 if the plans go ahead. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka added, "With courts closures and cuts to legal aid, access to justice has been significantly restricted by the previous government and now this one".