Responding to the Justice Secretary’s announcement of changes to judicial review, including plans to abolish ‘Cart’ judicial review for people to challenge refusals of permission to appeal a First-Tier immigration or asylum tribunal decision, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: “These proposals are yet another part of the Conservatives’ assault on the rule of law. On top of their outrageous crackdown on the right to peaceful protest, they are now trying to limit people’s ability to hold governments to account through the courts.
“Judicial review is working well. It is a powerful tool for individuals to enforce their rights and stop governments from overstepping their powers.
“Abolishing ‘Cart’ judicial review for immigration and asylum claims would remove a vital safeguard when tribunals make mistakes in cases where the stakes are often extremely high for the people involved. It is completely unjustified and a terrible backwards step.
“Liberal Democrats will oppose these plans to restrict judicial review and resist the Tories’ attempts to undermine the rule of law, which is so fundamental to our democratic society.”