High Court blocks Welsh law challenge
THE Welsh Government has been refused permission for a High Court legal challenge against the UK Government over the Internal Market Act.
Counsel General for Wales Jeremy Miles tried to bring a full High Court challenge over the
Act, which he argued “severely curtails” the powers of the
Senedd and could prevent it from making laws on food or environmental standards.
Announcing the legal action in January, Mr Miles said the Act was an “attack” on the powers of the Senedd, and also includes “wide Henry VIII powers” which UK ministers could use to “cut down the devolution settlement”.
At a hearing in London last week, Mr Miles asked the High Court to allow the case to proceed to a full hearing later this year.
But the UK Government argued that the claim is “hypothetical”, and that “nothing in the Internal Market Act alters the devolved competence of the Senedd”.
In a ruling yesterday, the High Court refused permission for the case to go ahead, saying: “This claim for judicial review is premature.”
Lord Justice Lewis, sitting with Mrs Justice Steyn, said: “A claim concerning the meaning or effect of provisions of Senedd legislation, or whether the legislation is properly within the Senedd’s legislative competence, is better addressed in the context of specific legislative proposals.
“It is inappropriate to seek to address such issues in the absence of specific circumstances giving rise to the arguments raised by the claimant and a specific legislative context in which to test and assess those arguments. Similarly, it is inappropriate to seek to give general, abstract rulings on the circumstances in which the power to make regulations amending the (Internal Market) Act may be exercised.”
The judge added: “As the claim for judicial review is premature, it is unnecessary, and would be unwise, to express views on the arguability or otherwise of the arguments raised by the claimant.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The (High) Court today decided the application for permission to bring a judicial review of parts of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act. The application for permission has been refused on the ground that it is premature rather than whether it is arguable.
“Consideration will now be given to further steps, including an appeal.”
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts, said: “This ruling is disappointing. Its implication is that Wales must wait until Westminster has inflicted the worst of its attacks on devolution before we can act.”