Duncan Lewis issued judicial review proceedings over the Home Office’s New Plan for Immigration consultation. The proceedings were taken on behalf of five clients who have ongoing asylum claims. The reforms would introduce a stricter test for granting asylum. The clients were unable to take part in the consultation as they speak neither English nor Welsh.
Duncan Lewis stated that the Home Office did not provide any means to allow non-English speakers to participate in the consultation. The firm further claimed that the Home Office breached the Public Sector Equality Duty in the way the consultation was designed and did not offer an adequate time for asylum seekers to respond.
The Home office stated that it will not accept this claim and that the proposed reform will "allow us to welcome people through safe and legal routes".