A new legal challenge has been brought to the government over its refusal to release documents relating to its decision to approve plans for a new coal mine in Whitehaven. 

Democracy for Sale, an investigative journalism newsletter, has launched legal proceedings at the Information Tribunal under the Environmental Information Regulations. 

It follows the government's refusal to release the ministerial submission prepared for Michael Gove, then levelling up secretary, before he gave the thumbs up to the coal mine plans in December 2022.  

The case is against the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, a hearing is scheduled for later this summer but a date hasn't been set yet. 

Lucas Amin, one of the journalists at Democracy for Sale, said: "Why are we taking the case? Because the public has a right to know why and how such a contentious decision was taken. 

"We are taking the case to ensure there is transparency and accountability over the decision and to ensure that lessons are learned."

READ MORE: Campaigners against Whitehaven coal mine gather to call for green jobs

The Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government withheld the document when Democracy for Sale requested it as it was an internal communication - however, this can be challenged on the grounds of public interest.

Mr Amin, alongside Peter Geoghegan, will argue that it is in the public interest to disclose this document which contains the evidence and rationale for approving the mine. 

Chris Skidmore, former Conservative energy minister, will act as a witness in the case. 

He told Democracy for Sale: "Accountability and transparency must be at the heart of all decision-making processes in the future, particularly when it comes to delivering on our own Net Zero commitments.

"There is no such thing as a new Net Zero coal mine and ministers simply shouldn’t have been allowed to abuse the terminology of Net Zero by claiming something that was palpably false."

The Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government recently pulled its defence of the mine ahead of two legal challenges by Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change. 

The Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government has been contacted for comment.