The government had planned to ask for permission to appeal the ruling but has since withdrawn and accepted that its conduct over the Public First contract had been unlawful. 

It did, however, argue in court at the costs hearing that the project had not won on every ground in our challenge, so the court should make a costs order which reflects the “relative success of both parties”.

The court stated: “In this case, it is clear to the court that the claimant [Good Law Project] was the overall successful party in the case…it sought a ruling that the decision to award the contract to Public First was unlawful, and the court has made a ruling to that effect. Also, it was successful in defeating the defendant’s arguments about standing.”