Lawyers seek ‘back to work’ review

The Government is facing a legal challenge over new legislation for “back to work” schemes, which it is accused of rushing through Parliament.

Phil Shiner, the head of Public Interest Lawyers, said it would bring judicial review proceedings after the Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, lost an appeal at the Supreme Court against a ruling that earlier regulations underpinning the schemes were invalid.

Justices upheld a Court of Appeal decision that 2011 rules were legally flawed, but rejected claims that the schemes amounted to forced labour.

PA