Simon Dolan seeking judicial Review of government’s lockdown - AIBU to think he is a selfish pr**k?

[Userwhatevernumber]

A multi-millionaire is taking the government to court to challenge the lockdown restrictions. He is seeking judicial review of the decision to enforce lockdown.

Fair enough if he wanted to use his own multi-millions to find this. But no, he is actually crowdfunding. He is seeking to raise £125,000 from the public. At a time when he himself has already acknowledged the suffering economy.

AIBU to think this is total selfishness and that he is just another white, rich privileged man thinking he can play the hero and save us all when all the while he is only out for himself?

😡

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/law/2020/may/01/uk-government-faces-legal-challenge-coronavirus-lockdown-businessman-simon-dolan

www.crowdjustice.com/case/lockdownlegalchallenge/

He is just thinking about the money, money money. Selfish idiot🙄

For all those on this post who agree with this, I assume you are also the ones not following lockdown then?

Me? Yep, not following it. You do you though.

I'm grateful that someone is taking some action to subject the policy to scrutiny based on the rule of law. To my mind it is deeply flawed. Let's see what the law thinks. (I've very happily contributed to the fund.)

For all those on this post who agree with this, I assume you are also the ones not following lockdown then?

I agree with this. I am still following lockdown. I understand why it has been needed. I'm struggling more with it now though. I accept one more extension, but will then be very pissed off if no exit strategy has at least been outlined.

So I cooperate. For now.

You couldn't make it up. What kind of idiot thinks that the lucky ones are the ones having to go out to work and risk contracting the virus. Like sitting in a lifeboat watching a ship sink and complaining that you can't go for a swim.

"If we were in a blitz, would we claim it breached our human rights to have enforced blackouts?" I'm sure we would.

"I'm not sitting here in the dark"

"You know more people are dying through falling over in the dark than from the bombs"

"I have my rights"

You can read the same kind of nonsense on youtube conspiracy videos along with the Flat Earth, Nibiru, Secret Lizard governments etc and the comments are wonderful. You just know they're moving their finger along the words as they read.

I think absolutely the people should be able to question the government actions in a democracy. I don't think that should be limited because it's a national emergency.

He is also, I suppose, within his rights to ask for people for donations to pay for it- they don't have to contribute.

For all those on this post who agree with this, I assume you are also the ones not following lockdown then?

I don't agree with his views. I agree he has the right to take the government to court. I also agree that people have the right to fund it, if they want to shell out for it. It's their money.

You can vote them out at the next general election. You have the power to do that. Does anyone seriously think they are making this shit up just to impose authoritarian rule?

I assume you are also the ones not following lockdown then?

You assume wrong, and I do not see the link with complying with the rules and agreeing the government should be held to account. They are not mutually exclusive.

I can’t see why people are up in arms about this, if the government is right, and they have the evidence to show it, then what’s wrong with asking the question,

By arguing he shouldn’t do this, it is the same as admitting that you think the government has no case to do it.

Because if the case is there, which I personally think it is, then what’s wrong with wanting the evidence, what’s wrong with wanting transparency on the cost to the British public. Why support no one should ask so the government doesn’t have to answer.

Makes no sense to me. I supported lock down. I think restrictions should now start to ease, I think the government needs to inform the public of the cost and what it means to them in real terms. I believe in transparency.

@Ilets

What are you doing, Ilets? That is not covered under the guidelines?

well now he knows the affect on BAME communities he'd be making an informed (indirectly racist) choice to continue

It also disproportionately affects obese people, men and the elderly. Is he making an informed prejudiced choice against those people too? Genuine question.

Yes he is.

As for evidence. Surely just very basic common sense. A deadly highly contagious virus will spread less in a lockdown. No lockdown means more people mixing, crowded public transport, schools, and open plan offices. More chances for Covid to spread.

What effect do you think a stop, start, stop, start approach will have on the economy? It won't impact on Simon because he's super rich and not in the UK. He lives in Monaco (with a strict lockdown). What happens when half or more of the workforce are all off sick at the same time, some for weeks on end, and dying in large numbers? Nobody available to treat patients because HCP are ill, no public transport because drivers are ill, power and food shortages because staff are ill.

He will cost the UK taxpayer huge sums if he goes ahead with this. We all need that money more than ever. The last thing we need is to spend large amounts of taxpayer revenue on a likely very expensive and lengthy court case.

Why would it cost huge sums? Surely the government and has the information and can pass it over. It will be a drop in the ocean

Again a huge case indicates you think the government has no case so will spend ages trying to defend it.

They will have the info. If the court proceeds,and I’m not sure it will. There is no reason this should be a huge prolonged case.

May I comment as one who knows Simon...

Anyone with any experience of the law knows if there's money a case like this can be dragged out (on 'technicalities') and will from the very start be costly. Any legal action of this type and its defence is expensive.

Simon is in Monaco. Why does he not challenge his 'human rights' where he lives?

@Chh03

Please do.

My biggest issue with things like this, is that the risk isn't individual actions but if large numbers of people start to ignore the rules. I might not make the same choices as the Government but choices need to be made on what to prioritise and it only works if we all follow the same rules.

He's saying, in a very public format, that restrictions on our lives are against our human rights. How many will take that as encouragement to do what they like? Increasing the chances of a bad second wave, needless death and further restrictions.

The right to life.

That's the most basic human right.

Why is Simon unconcerned about his 'lack of freedom' in Monaco, where he lives. Their lockdown is far stricter than ours.

I don't share his point of view. However, the government must never be above the law. We should never object to them being challenged in the court, no matter how much we might disagree with the allegations.

Can I just say
Until today most of you had no idea who Simon Dolan was
So this is a great publicly stunt
And as always it's about him and his business ... he is after all an entrepreneur.
But the big issue as always is he tax status and HMR&C opinion on this

I am following lock down rules and from what I know, I agree that lock down was probably the best course of action at the time. I don't think we shouldn't ask difficult questions and ask for evidence just because some people don't think we should - the government should be transparent and be able to answer the questions easily.

As so often, Bluntness has nailed it

Also, Simon Dolan probably is doing this as a publicity stunt and may be money focused but he is asking the questions many people have and so despite this, I support it.

Why's he not asking the 'questions' (questioning basic common sense?) in Monaco, where he lives? Their lockdown is much stricter so you'd think if he was concerned about his 'human rights' he'd want to ask the government there.