Budget gender challenge lost

The Fawcett Society has been refused permission to challenge the legality of the coalition's emergency Budget.

A QC for the gender equality group told a High Court judge the Budget cuts were having a "grossly disproportionate and devastating" impact on women, who were having to bear the brunt of the cuts triggered in jobs, benefits and services.

The Society was applying for permission to seek a declaration the government had acted unlawfully by formulating June's Budget "without paying due regard to gender equality laws".

But Mr Justice Ouseley ruled the application "unarguable - or academic" and dismissed it.