Dominic Raab is planning to curb judges’ powers in a move likely to make it harder to bring successful legal challenges against the government in England and Wales, according to a leaked document seen by the Guardian.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) paper suggests the justice secretary, who is also deputy prime minister, is considering changes that would have the effect of limiting ministers’ accountability in judicial reviews brought by claimants concerned about the way decisions have been taken by public bodies.

The move comes amid rhetoric by ministers about overreach by judges and “lefty lawyers”, with the recent judicial review case – still outstanding – challenging the Rwanda deportation flight having attracted the ire of government.

Leaked report suggests Dominic Raab trying to curb judges’ powers

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Why does the government want to reform judicial review?

Deputy prime minister Dominic Raab

Campaigners said ‘the government’s attempts to avoid accountability set a very dangerous precedent for all future governments of all stripes’. Photograph: James Manning/PA

Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent

Sun 7 Aug 2022 18.11 BST

Dominic Raab is planning to curb judges’ powers in a move likely to make it harder to bring successful legal challenges against the government in England and Wales, according to a leaked document seen by the Guardian.