Court of Appeal has today rejected the government's appeal of a High Court ruling over the legality of back-to-work schemes - Owen Smith reaction

Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on news that the Court of Appeal has today rejected the government’s appeal of a High Court ruling over the legality of back-to-work schemes, said:

“The Tories are now running up quite the track record of losing court cases in a vain attempt to defend the callous mess they have made of the social security system.  This time failing to defend their so called ‘back-to-work’ scheme, which is a shocking example of badly made policy that has also been ineffective in getting people in to jobs.

“Stephen Crabb’s department is clearly out of control, as the DWP is becoming ever more deeply embroiled in costly and ineffective legal disputes.  This latest decision comes on top of a string of successful legal challenges to flagship Tory policies, including the Bedroom Tax and the benefit cap, both of which were ruled as discriminatory.  While the courts also forced the DWP to come clean and publish a deeply damaging risk register showing the failures that have undermined the roll out of Universal Credit.

“Today’s decision also provides yet more clear evidence that the Tories sanctions policy is completely failing and needs to be totally overhauled.”