A legal challenge against “extreme” Covid-19 lockdown rules in England has reached the High Court.
Businessman Simon Dolan is making a claim against Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson over rules, which he has described as “some of the most extreme restrictions imposed on fundamental freedoms in the modern era”.
The entrepreneur is worth £200 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List. He claims the regulations – first introduced by the Government in March – are a “disproportionate breach of fundamental rights and freedoms” protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.
He claims they are costing the economy billions of pounds a day.
Mr Dolan, who has raised almost £200,000 from more than 6,400 crowdfunding pledges, is also challenging the decision to close schools for most children.
At a remote hearing on Thursday, Mr Dolan will ask Mr Justice Lewis to grant permission for a full hearing of his challenge, claiming the regulations are unlawful and beyond the Government’s powers.
The Government has previously indicated it intends to oppose the claim, having responded to a letter outlining Mr Dolan’s proposed action by saying his case is not open to legal challenge.
In a statement, earlier this month, Mr Dolan said: “July 2 will be just over 100 days since lockdown and what has happened every day in this period underlines how important the judicial review is.
“In that time, £2.5billion has been wiped off the UK economy each day, millions of children are shut out of school, the NHS faces a waiting list explosion, and the freedoms of everyone in the UK have been trampled over.”
