Care England has instructed Aston Brooke Solicitors to begin a judicial review on the imposition of higher employers National Insurance contributions.

Care England said it is making the move in response to the recent vote in the House Of Commons to impose NI contribution increases and to reject a House of Lords amendment that would have exempted the care sector.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, says: “It is clear that the government is not listening to the sector and has not acknowledged the body of evidence that shows the enormous impact these charges will have on care providers, and their ability to deliver care and support to the citizens who desperately need it.

“Since it took power, this government has delivered a series of blows to the care sector and there is a fundamental lack of understanding about the importance of our sector, and its social and economic contribution to local communities. The chancellor said that she delivered a budget for growth, but her actions in imposing increases in National Insurance contributions will leave many organisations on the brink of bankruptcy. This policy will also make a mockery of the commitment not to increase taxes for working people because many of those hard-working and committed care staff will be without a job because of this policy.

“It is clear that this government will not listen to the considered advice of the House of Lords, so our last resort is to call them to account through the courts.”