LONDON (Within The Law) - A businessman who wants to sue the Government for taking the country into lockdown has been given the go-ahead at the Court of Appeal.
Simon Dolan instructed the law firm Wedlake Bell in May and issued legal proceedings against the UK Government, Matt Hancock and Gavin Williamson. In the challenge, Dolan claims that the Coronavirus response from these ministers was disproportionate, that the pandemic measures put in place in May were unlawful and breached the European Convention on Human rights.
According to Dolan, the five tests for ending lockdown are too narrow.
Dolan has already attempted to bring a high court challenge against the Government but had been denied in the court. However, after a review by Lord Justice Hickinbottom, it has been decided the case should progress.
It will now go to a rolled-up hearing at the Court of Appeal in September where it will decide on whether the case should progress to a full appeal. If that happens, the Government will be forced to defend in court their lockdown measures which, according to the court, were ‘possibly the most restrictive regime on the public life of persons and businesses ever.
Dolan commented “I am delighted our legal challenge will progress to the next stage. The Government’s decision to unilaterally lockdown the United Kingdom marks the most serious imposition on personal freedoms in recent history.
(Written by Tom Cropper, Edited by Klaudia Fior)