Thank you for getting in touch with me about judicial review.
In the UK, we enjoy one of the most independent, fair and uncompromised judiciary systems anywhere in the world - free from political interference. The reforms under consideration at the request of the Government will only strengthen this position, not undermine it.
It is worth remembering that judicial review is an administrative process and does not make a judgement on whether a decision was ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. It investigates whether or not decisions were made following the correct procedure and whether there were errors in the decision-making process.
This is an independent review, entirely separate from Government, chaired by Lord Faulks QC, and it will be conducted by a panel of legal experts. It forms part of the Lord Chancellor’s defence of our leading, independent judicial system, and it does not constitute an attack on the law as alleged.
The suggestion from opposition campaigners that this review, “could prevent people challenging the Government in the courts”, is categorically untrue and is a misrepresentation of both what judicial review involves, and the independence of the panel review being undertaken by Lord Faulks.
The suggestion that this is an attempt by the Prime Minister to, “allow Ministers to break the law with impunity”, is also untrue, and fails to account for the many checks and balances in our system including the strict, well-established rules on Ministerial conduct.
The only involvement the Government has had in this process was to call for it, as pledged in the manifesto on which I was elected.
You can read the full announcement of the review here. I hope this reassures you as to the facts behind the review.