The Welsh Government has been refused permission for a High Court legal challenge against the UK Government over the Internal Market Act.

Counsel General for Wales Jeremy Miles tried to bring a full High Court challenge over the Act, which he argued “severely curtails” the powers of the Senedd.

At a hearing last week, Mr Miles asked the High Court to allow the case to proceed to a full hearing later this year.

But, in a ruling on Monday, the court refused permission, saying: “This claim for judicial review is premature.”

Lord Justice Lewis, sitting with Mrs Justice Steyn, said: “A claim concerning the meaning or effect of provisions of Senedd legislation, or whether the legislation is properly within the Senedd’s legislative competence, is better addressed in the context of specific legislative proposals.

“It is inappropriate to seek to address such issues in the absence of specific circumstances giving rise to the arguments raised by the claimant and a specific legislative context in which to test and assess those arguments.”