TRADE unionists are leafleting jobcentre staff in England’s north-west today, warning them they may be acting unlawfully by carrying out bosses’ instructions to impose sanctions on people receiving benefits.

The leaflets have been prepared with the help of legal advisers and produced by Salford and Greater Manchester TUCs.

The TUCs said the leaflets were a first step towards taking the government to court over its sanctions strategy, which has driven tens of thousands of Britain’s most vulnerable people into abject poverty and even to suicide.

Legal advisers to the trades councils argue that the government is in breach of its own social security laws by refusing benefits to those entitled to them, and the leaflets point out that staff who implement sanctions are themselves being made to act unlawfully.

The leaflets are also being sent to the Public and Commercial Services union.