Tories have again shown that the law only applies to "the little people" amid reports of a shake-up that will make it harder to challenge the government, critics say.
Labour has reacted angrily to reports that Lord Chancellor Dominic Raab is plotting to reduce judges' powers and make ministers less accountable.
Leaked Ministry of Justice (MOJ) documents suggest Mr Raab is looking at changes to the Judicial Review and Courts Act - meaning judges could be barred from carrying out reviews and the cost burden for bringing a case could be ramped up.
It comes after a stream of attacks by ministers on "lefty lawyers" who they claim are holding up decisions such as the controversial Rwanda deportation scheme.
Steve Reed, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, said: "This leak is yet more proof that the Lord Chancellor and this arrogant Conservative government thinks that the law only applies to the little people.
"Whether it’s their attacks on judicial review, the billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money handed out to their mates in Covid contracts, the Partygate scandal or their so-called ‘Bill of Rights’, which will stop victims of crime getting justice, the Conservatives have shown their contempt for the British people.
"Voters will be in no doubt, the Conservatives think it’s one rule for them and one rule for everyone else."
It follows a report in The Guardian stating Mr Raab is "minded to consult" on changes which are likely to make it harder to bring successful legal challenges.
A leaked document says several changes could make changes to “assessing the intensity of review to apply in different cases”.
Although it is unclear what this will entail, experts believe it could limit judges' ability to hear cases or dictating the criteria they could apply.
It also suggested changing cost rules - ensuring that claimants have "sufficient interest" to bring a case. This could impact on organisations that launch legal action on behalf of others, The Guardian reports.
Mr Raab's office this morning said it does not comment on leaks.
Charlie Whelton, policy and campaigns officer at Liberty, said the leaked documents appear to be intended to make the government "even less accountable to the public", adding: "The government is determined to make it as difficult as possible to take them to court and hold them accountable for unlawful actions."
Jolyon Maugham QC, director of the Good Law Project, posted on Twitter : "Government already spends like a sailor on shore leave to try and deter challenges.
"Really worrying that he (Mr Raab) is considering legislating to change the "intensity of review" (ie to make it even harder for Claimants to succeed)."
