COVID-19 denialism in the United Kingdom

{{denialism}}'''Denialism of COVID-19 in the UK''' was a range of beliefs, statements, and behaviors from anti-vax and [[Organised Pseudolegal Commercial Argument Schemes in the United Kingdom|pseudoloegal]] activist who rejected, minimized, or challenged the scientific consensus on the existence, severity, or public health response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

==Pandemic shenanigans==
===Hyde Park protest===
On May 16, 2020, shortly after the lifting of the first lockdown, [[Piers Corbyn]] and [[Jeff Wyatt]] were arrested at an anti-lockdown/anti-5G protest in London's Hyde Park.<ref name=”dailystar170520”>[https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/lockdown-protesters-descend-hyde-park-22039048 Lockdown protesters descend on Hyde park chanting 'freedom' as cops make arrests] by Emma Parker (May 17, 2020) ''Daily Star''</ref> They were subsequently charged with offences under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020.<ref name=”mkfm220620”>[https://www.mkfm.com/news/local-news/milton-keynes-man-charged-with-breaking-lockdown-rules-to-attend-anti-5g-protest-alongside-piers-corbyn Police charge former UKIP Milton Keynes candidate over anti-5G protest held during lockdown] (June 22, 2020) ''MKFM''</ref> The two would unrepentantly go on to lead many such protests across the [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref name=”mkfm210820”>[https://www.mkfm.com/news/local-news/masks-are-muzzles-protestors-gather-outside-milton-keynes-council-civic-offices/ 'Masks are muzzles': Protestors gather outside Milton Keynes Civic Offices] (August 21, 2020) ''MKFM''</ref><ref name=”mkcitizen011020”>[https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/late-night-protest-rallies-about-10pm-curfew-to-be-held-this-friday-and-saturday-in-milton-keynes-2989389 Late night protest rallies about 10pm curfew to be held this Friday and Saturday in Milton Keynes] by Sally Murrer (October 1, 2020) ''MK Citizen''</ref><ref name=”mkcitizen200121”>[https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/freedom-fighters-to-parade-through-shopping-centre-without-masks-in-milton-keynes-protest-this-weekend-3243959 Freedom fighters' to parade through shopping centre without masks in Milton Keynes protest this weekend] by Sally Murrer (May 20, 2021) ''MK Citizen''</ref>

===Great Reopening===
An [[Organised Pseudolegal Commercial Argument Schemes in the United Kingdom|pseudolegal anti-lockdown scheme]] known as the [[Great Reopening]], which spread on social media in late 2020, encouraged small business owners and managers across the UK to open their premises to customers in contravention of COVID-19 lockdown regulation.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9196577/Anti-lockdown-campaigners-push-illegal-Great-Reopening-shops-businesses-TOMORROW.html Anti-lockdown campaigners backed by Piers Corbyn and David Icke push for illegal 'Great Reopening' of shops and businesses from TOMORROW despite Covid rules - as police threaten 'ultimate action' against flouters] (29 January 2021) ''MailOnline''</ref> The group behind the scheme initially based their defiance upon a misinterpretation of [[Magna Carta#lawful rebellion|Clause 61]] of the [[Magna Carta]], and provided a [[Pseudolaw | pseudolegal]] notice to be displayed proclaiming the individual's "right to enter into lawful dissent" and declaring the business "under the jurisdiction of common law".<ref name=bbcnews060321>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/56295261 Covid lockdown: Why Magna Carta won’t exempt you from the rules] by Alistair Coleman (6 March 2021) ''BBC News''</ref> Although, upon consultation with an actual lawyer, this advice was later retracted, many went ahead with it regardless. 

The campaign was supposed to culminate in a, well, great reopening on January 30<sup>th</sup>, 2021, but only 70 business actually signed up and those either never opened or were quickly shuttered by the authorities.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/08/among-covid-sceptics-we-are-being-manipulated-anti-lockdown Among the Covid sceptics: ‘We are being manipulated, without a shadow of a doubt’] by Samira Shackle (8 April 2021) ''The Guardian''</ref>

===Vaccine centre protest===
In July 2021, non-practicing and seemingly confused solicitor [[Anna de Buisseret]] made the unsubstantiated claim to bemused-looking [[police]] officers outside an [[NHS]] vaccine centre that, "We are a [[common law]] jurisdiction, [the vaccines] are causing harm. It’s against the law to cause harm and it’s also a duty to prevent harm from happening." And quickly escalated to claiming, "For the public record these [vaccines] are not legal, that’s precisely why we are here. They constitute [[crimes against humanity]], they are [[bioweapon]]s on the evidence that this is a [[eugenics]] programme, it’s [[genocide]]."<ref name=”reuters200721” />

Maintaining the spotlight, de Buisseret responded to the expansion of the vaccine roll out to over-12s with a video endorsed by [[Appeal to celebrity|celebrity contrarians]] [[Gillian McKeith|Gillian "awful poo lady" McKeith]] and {{wpl|Matt le Tissier||.}} Waving an entirely unrelated high court ruling in the face of another bemused police officer outside of another NHS vaccination centre while demanding he [[Appeal to emotion#Children|think of the children]]:
{{Quotebox|You’re not upholding the law. Here is the law, you can read it for yourself. This is Bell v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. It specifically says that [[children]] under 18 cannot give their informed consent to experimental medical treatment and you need to go to the court to get a declaration. It says it here, come and read it!<ref name=”reuters290921” /><ref name=”yahoo310821” />}}

Demanding to see the manager, she went on to state:
{{Quotebox|You’re still injecting children. That’s against the law! It’s illegal, it’s unlawful, it’s immoral and it’s unethical&nbsp;– and you will be held responsible. You will be held accountable for the death and the injury you cause. You don’t care, do you? You’re just going to kill children. You get £12.50 per jab, that’s all you care about. You’re murdering other people’s children and you’re defending them. Shame on you. This is murder.<ref name=”reuters290921” /><ref name=”yahoo310821” />}}

Following the overturning of the {{wpl|Bell v Tavistock|''Bell v Tavistock''}} judgment by the Court of Appeal, de Buisseret maintained:
{{Quotebox|The requirement for full [[informed consent]] for the child and parent is that a fully-qualified clinician take them through the informed consent process to tell them the material risks to that individual child. Every individual child must be individually risk assessed well before they have the injection. Otherwise they’re not being able to give their informed consent.<ref name=”reuters290921” />}}

===Westminster meeting===
In September 2021, an anti-vax brain trust, including Dolores Cahill, de Buisseret, bird-brained former obstetrician turned ivermectin pusher [[Tess Lawrie]], clottish funeral director [[John O'Looney]], suspended GP turned [[alternative medicine|holistic practitioner]] [[Sam White]], and Pfizer pharmacologist turned antivax activist {{wpl|Michael Yeadon||,}} met with a “senior” Tory MP, said to have been head of the {{wpl|1922 Committee||,}} Sir {{wpl|Graham Brady||,}} to call for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to be paused “as a matter of urgency” and for those vaccines to “at no point” be given to children. Brady, while not confirming the meeting had taken place, clarified that if it had, it would not amount to an endorsement of their views.<ref name=times30921>[https://archive.ph/ZAB7E#selection-801.0-812.0 Covid antivaxers ‘met senior Conservative MP’ Sir Graham Brady] by Tom Whipple (September 30, 2021) ''The Sunday Times'' (archived September 30, 2021)</ref><ref name=”independent300921”>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/covid-antivaxxers-graham-brady-meeting-b1930027.html Senior Tory MP Sir Graham Brady ‘met with anti-vaxxers’] by Zoe Tidman (September 30, 2021) ''The Independent''</ref>

===World Council for Health declaration===
Also in September 2021 Lawrie and Canadian dentist Jennifer Hibberd formed the misleadingly named {{wpl|World Council for Health|| (WCH)}} as "an umbrella group for purveyors of COVID misinformation."<ref name=”vicenews220222”>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7nqm7/mysterious-medical-organizations-are-calling-for-an-end-to-covid-vaccines Mysterious Medical Organizations Are Calling for an End to COVID Vaccines] by Anna Merlan (February 2, 2022) ''VICE News''</ref> The council's steering committee included de Buisseret, homeopathic dentist Zac Cox, and other such experts. This group has declared COVID vaccines “dangerous and ineffective,” released a bullshit guide to “spike protein detox,” falsely claimed COVID vaccination leads to heart issues, and called on followers to deliver an anti-vax petition to local elected officials.<ref name=”vicenews220222” />

===ICC request===
In early December 2021, Corbyn, O'Looney, Sexton, Yeadon, and others, filed a spurious request for the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute [[Boris Johnson]], [[Bill Gates]], [[Klaus Schwab]] and others, for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide of the British peoples.<ref name=telegraph040122 /> Curiously, the ICC seem not to have taken up the request to investigate.

===National Emergency declared===
[[File:602967921Ad.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Banned ad for a fake investigation.]]
On December 20, 2021, anti-vax solicitors [[Lois Bayliss]] and [[Philip Hyland]] joined Sexton and White in filing a criminal complaint over the government vaccine rollout with Hammersmith and Fulham Police at Hammersmith police station. The complainants were issued Metropolitan Police crime reference number (CRN) 6029679/21, which they used to promote the false claim that an massive criminal investigation was underway.<ref name=”vicenews210122” />

The CRN was immediately included on a press release circulated on Telegram and adverts, including the headlines “national emergency” and "the truth is out" alongside the Met Police logo, published in local papers the ''Rotherham Advertiser'' (print) and ''The Argus'' (online), calling for members of the public to support the non-existent investigation by submitting evidence of vaccine harm to Bayliss’s firm Broad Yorkshire Law.<ref name=”huffpost250522”>[https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/anti-vax-adverts-banned-after-appearing-in-local-paper_uk_628cb140e4b0edd2d01ac081 Believe It Or Not, These Anti-Vax Ads Were Published By Two Local Papers] by Rachel Moss (May 25, 2022) ''HuffPost''</ref> South Yorkshire Police whose logo was also featured in the ''Rotherham Advertiser'' version had the advert retracted by the paper and referred it to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for investigation.<ref name=”reuters200122b”>[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2U01I5/ British newspaper retracted advert for vaccine ‘crimes’] (January 20, 2022) ''Reuters''</ref><ref name=”vicenews210122” /> The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), acting on six complaints, later banned the ads with the ruling: {{quotebox|We considered that the implication in the ads that Covid-19 vaccines were unsafe and that the vaccine program was illegal had the effect of encouraging vaccine hesitancy. Further, because the ads gave the impression of being placed, approved or endorsed by public bodies, we considered readers were likely to pay greater attention and place greater trust in the ads’ message. Because of that, we considered the ads were unduly alarming and caused fear of Covid-19 vaccines without justifiable reason. — ASA<ref name=”thedrum250522”>[https://www.thedrum.com/news/2022/05/25/asa-condemns-regional-newspapers-running-anti-vax-ads ASA condemns regional newspapers for running anti-vax ads] by John Glenday (May 25, 2022) ''The Drum''</ref>}}

Sovereign citizens started citing the CRN as justification for their storming COVID vaccination sites across the UK. Hyland distanced himself, Baylis and White from this criminal activity, whilst seemingly throwing Sexton under the bus with the statement: {{Quotebox|That’s not something I’ve been doing, or Lois or Sam, but I can’t speak for Mark. — Philip Hyland<ref name=”vicenews210122”>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjb37w/anti-vaxxers-think-a-9-digit-code-602967921-shows-vaccine-sites-are-criminal-it-doesnt Anti-Vaxxers Think a 9-Digit Code Shows Vaccine Sites Are Criminal. It Doesn’t.] by Tim Hume (January 21, 2022) ''VICE News''</ref>}}

===Let the UK Live===
Corbyn and Wyatt celebrated Christmas 2021 by co-leading a "Let the UK Live" anti-vax "freedom rally" in his home town of Milton Keynes, which, despite his local knowledge, got confused, mistook a test-and-trace centre for a vaccine centre,<ref name=”guardian291221”>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/29/anti-vaxxers-denounce-covid-testing-centre-in-freedom-march-through-milton-keynes Anti-vaxxers storm Covid testing centre during ‘freedom’ rally in Milton Keynes] by Léonie Chao-Fong (December 29, 2021) ''The Guardian''</ref> and ended up disrupting Ashley Banjo & Diversity's performance of the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime at the Milton Keynes Theatre.<ref name=”bbcnews301221”>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-59826625.amp Covid: Anti-vax protesters disrupt Milton Keynes NHS test centre] (December 30, 2021) ''BBC News''</ref> Fellow Milton Keynes-based COVID-19 denialist O'Looney was unable to attend, as he was in the ICU having discovered first-hand the reality of the pandemic.<ref name=”mkcitizen040122”>[https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/milton-keynes-funeral-director-whos-an-avid-anti-vaxxer-ends-up-in-hospital-with-covid-3514225 Milton Keynes funeral director who's an avid anti-vaxxer ends up in hospital with Covid] by Sally Murrer (January 4, 2022) ''MK Citizen''</ref>

===National Emergency over===
On February 3rd, 2022, Bayliss signed a letter on her company letterhead threating legal action against those requiring face-masks, carrying out routine lateral flow tests and facilitating Covid-vaccination programmes for schoolchildren, using the CRN as evidence of an active police investigation, which was circulated on Telegram.<ref name=”vicenews100222”>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/4awqpm/covid-anti-vax-fake-crime-number COVID Conspiracists Are Threatening Schools With a Fake Police Investigation] by Tim Hume (February 10, 2022) ''VICE News''</ref> Over the next few weeks, according to the SRA, Bayliss sent the letter to up to 450 people at 247 schools and GP surgeries, and encouraged up to 48 others to send similar letters.<ref name=”lawsociety220923”>[https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/solicitor-charged-by-sra-over-covid-vaccine-letters/5117314.article Solicitor charged by SRA over Covid vaccine letters] (September 22, 2023) ''The Law Society Gazette''</ref><ref name=”vicenews220923”>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5v77/lawyer-charged-after-legal-threats-to-schools-over-covid-vaccines Lawyer Charged After Legal Threats to Schools Over COVID Vaccines] by Tim Hume (September 22, 2023) ''VICE News''</ref> 

The campaign ended on February 22, 2022, when the Met issued a formal rejection of the complaint, stating: {{Quotebox|Following an assessment of all the available evidence, it is clear that no criminal offences are apparent. The Metropolitan Police will not be launching a criminal investigation and no further action will be taken. — Met Police Spokesperson<ref name=”independent220222”>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/covid-vaccine-police-probe-antivaxx-b2020747.html Anti-Vaxxers Met Police finds ‘no criminal offences’ in Covid vaccine programme after anti-vaxxer complaint] by Lizzie Dearden (February 22, 2022) ''The Independent''</ref>}}

===Better Way Conference===
In May 2022, Lawrie organised and opened the misnamed and misguided Better Way Conference alongside fearmongering antivax profiteer [[Del Bigtree]]. Her opening remarks set the tone by stating that Bath, where it was held, was both an “ancient place of healing and discovery” and the place where astronomer William Herschel had discovered Uranus: a planet “considered the great awakener, the force that shakes you out of your slumber.” The list of invited speakers included anti-vax lawyers RFK Jr., Bayliss, Hyland, {{wpl|Reiner Fuellmich||,}} and immunologists turned conspiracist Dolores Cahill and {{wpl|Robert W. Malone||.}} The conference had to be relocated at short notice after Bath and North East Somerset Council, who owned the original venue, realised that the event was not going to be the promotion of “an evidence-based approach to medical decision making, sovereignty, empowerment and reimagining the future of healthcare,” it had billed itself as.<ref name=”vicenews200522”>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/akvxpp/covid-antivax-better-way-conference The Davos of COVID Conspiracy Theorists Is Happening in a UK Town Right Now] by Tim Hume (May 20, 2022) ''VICE News''</ref>

==Agents of chaos==
===Lois Bayliss and Philip Hyland===
{{cquote| Depends what you mean by investigation. There’s certainly evidence been submitted which police are reviewing.|||Philip Hyland<ref name=”vicenews210122” />}}

'''Lois Bayliss''' {{lived|1975|}} of Broad Yorkshire Law<ref name=sraBayliss>[https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/person/?sraNumber=362480 Lois Yvonne Bayliss] ''Solicitors Regulation Authority''</ref><ref name="CompaniesHouse1">[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/t7EJZF28gt7y53BpY4PyqRqiilY/appointments Lois Yvonne BAYLISS] ''Companies House''</ref> and '''Philip Hyland''' {{lived|1965|}} of PJH Law<ref name=”sraHyland”>[https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/person/?sraNumber=5891 Philip Julian Paul Hyland] ''Solicitors Regulation Authority''</ref><ref name="CompaniesHouse2">[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/zJSNeg0pbi7vKSKPqfMSpfTG8Ms/appointments Phil Julian Paul HYLAND] ''Companies House''</ref> are [[British]] [[Anti-vaccination movement|antivax]] solicitors who instigated misleading claims that a large scale criminal investigation was being carried out into the UK rollout of the [[COVID-19 vaccine]] by the Metropolitan Police.<ref name=”reuters200122a”>[https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-coronavirus-britain-idUSL1N2U00Q8/ The Metropolitan Police has not opened a criminal investigation into Britain’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout] (January 20, 2022) ''Reuters''</ref><ref name=”vicenews210122”>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjb37w/anti-vaxxers-think-a-9-digit-code-602967921-shows-vaccine-sites-are-criminal-it-doesnt Anti-Vaxxers Think a 9-Digit Code Shows Vaccine Sites Are Criminal. It Doesn’t.] by Tim Hume (January 21, 2022) ''VICE News''</ref> Both faced professional investigation for their pandemic shenanigans. 

====Call the Balyiss====
On April 4, 2023, the seemingly less impressed SRA referred Bayliss to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for prosecution,<ref>[https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/solicitor-to-face-sdt-over-misleading-covid-threats-to-schools-and-gps Solicitor to face SDT over “misleading” Covid threats to schools and GPs] by Neil Rose (September 22, 2023) ''Legal Futures''</ref> with a ruling that read: {{Quotebox|The tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer in respect of allegations which are or include that:<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;1. Between 4 and 21 February 2022, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Bayliss sent letters to up to 450 individuals at up to 247 schools and GP surgeries, and encouraged up to 48 others to send similar letters, threatening that the recipients would face civil and/or criminal liability if they:<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i. required face-coverings and carried out routine lateral flow tests for schoolchildren<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ii. facilitated the school-age children Covid-vaccination programme.<br />
The threats in Allegation 1 were misleading.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;2. When making the threats in Allegation 1, Ms Bayliss improperly sought to rely upon her standing and role as a solicitor.<br />
The allegations are subject to a hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven. — SRA<ref name=sra040423>[https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/solicitor-check/362480/ Lois Yvonne Bayliss - 362480] (April 4, 2023) ''Solicitors Regulation Authority''</ref>}}

A case management hearing for Bayliss, held on January 25, 2024, dismissed an application for strike out and agreed that the four-day hearing, originally listed to start on 12 February, would be relisted for later in the year. At this time Bayliss had raised over £30,000 of a £200,000 target on GoFundMe to fight the prosecution.<ref name=”lawsociety260124”>[https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/covid-campaign-solicitor-crowdfunds-32k-before-sdt-appearance/5118550.article Covid campaign solicitor who crowdfunded SDT costs appears before tribunal over 'threatening letters'] (January 26, 2024) ''The Law Society Gazette''</ref>

====Hyland clearance====
On August 10, 2023, Philip Hyland was similarly referred to the SDT for prosecution over allegations that he improperly threatened legal action against a GP surgery when seeking a Covid-19 exemption for a client to travel to Brazil and not self-isolate on return, and against the chair of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) demanding, on behalf of three clients, withdrawal of the COVID-19 vaccines, suspending COVID-19 testing and a live televised Christmas broadcast announcing this decision.<ref name=sra100823>[https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/solicitor-check/005891/ Philip Julian Paul Hyland - 005891] (August 8, 2023) ''Solicitors Regulation Authority''</ref><ref>[https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/second-solicitor-to-face-tribunal-over-threatening-vaccine-letters Second solicitor to face tribunal over “threatening” vaccine letters] by Neil Rose (June 13, 2024) ''Legal Futures''</ref> The SRA's Benjamin Tankel said: {{Quotebox|This was never a serious legal claim, it was just as ideological campaign. There is no merit to the claim.<ref>[https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/covid-campaign-solicitor-crowdfunds-32k-before-sdt-appearance/5118550.article Covid campaign solicitor who crowdfunded SDT costs appears before tribunal over 'threatening letters'] by Bianca Castro (May 30, 2024) ''The Law Society Gazette''</ref>}}

A two-day preliminary hearing in May 2024 refused Hyland’s application for a stay. At the full hearing, held in July 2024, Tankel elaborated: {{Quotebox|[Hyland] was really…seeking to cloak what was basically a political view in some legal terminology and the solicitors’ profession in order to lend that view, his view and the view of his clients, additional credibility which it otherwise did not warrant. That is clear from the context. It was a “small p” political campaign dressed up as a legal claim.<ref>[https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/covid-campaigner-sought-to-cloak-political-view-in-legal-terminology-sdt-hears/5120178.article ‘Vaccine campaign’ solicitor sought to cloak views in legal terminology, SRA claims] by Bianca Castro (July 2, 2024) ''The Law Society Gazette''</ref>}} Peter Fields, acting for Hyland, responded: {{Quotebox|I am not suggesting for a moment that the scientific investigation would prove Mr Hyland right [but] he believed that he was and that is my submission.<ref>[https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/vaccine-campaign-solicitor-was-following-clients-instructions-sdt-hears/5120195.article ‘Vaccine campaign’ solicitor was following clients’ instructions in correspondence, SDT hears] by Bianca Castro (July 3, 2024) ''The Law Society Gazette''</ref>}}

The hearing concluded with an order for Hyland to pay a fine of £15,000 and costs of £66,500.<ref>[https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/vaccine-campaign-solicitor-fined-15000-by-sdt/5120232.article ‘Vaccine campaign’ solicitor fined £15,000 by SDT] by Bianca Castro (July 4, 2024) ''The Law Society Gazette''</ref>

===Anna de Buisseret===
[[File:AnnaDeBuisseret.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Anna de Buisseret in 2021 waving a copy of a legal case and very inaccurately describing it.]]
[[File:ThinkOfTheChildren.gif|thumb|right|165px|''[[The Simpsons]]'' predicted Anna de Buisseret in 1997.]]
{{cquote|Waving a copy of a legal case and very inaccurately describing [it] does not count as the law. Celebrities shouldn’t be retweeting this. People should listen to doctors, not Matt le Tissier or people waving copies of legal cases outside hospitals.|||Adam Wagner, barrister<ref name=”yahoo310821” />}}{{cquote|We do not recognise the speaker as an expert in the field of vaccine regulation and find no basis for her claims, which we regard as false and seriously misleading.|||Julian Hitchcock, an actual lawyer at Bristows<ref name=”reuters200721”/>}}

'''Annamarie Harvey de Buisseret''' also known as '''Anna de Buiscuit'''<ref name=”reuters200721” /> {{lived|6 September 1965|30 November 2024}}<ref>Mark Playne, [https://www.notonthebeeb.co.uk/post/the-sad-loss-of-a-hero-of-the-freedom-movement "The Sad Loss of a Hero of the Freedom Movement"], Not on the Beeb</ref> was a non-practising, "confused,"<ref name=”reuters290921” /> and "just wrong"<ref name=”yahoo310821” /> solicitor<ref name=sraBuisseret>[https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/person/?sraNumber=21828 Annamarie Harvey de Buisseret] ''Solicitors Regulation Authority''</ref> with multiple misunderstandings of [[England|English]] case law<ref name=”reuters290921”>[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2QV19H/ Bell v Tavistock case is unrelated to vaccines for children] (September 28, 2021) ''Reuters''</ref> turned [[antivax]] activist, whose legal advice was described by experts as "false," "seriously misleading,"<ref name=”reuters200721” /> and "errant nonsense."<ref name=”yahoo310821”>[https://uk.news.yahoo.com/anti-vaxxer-nonsense-rant-170841670.html Anti-vaxxer launches nonsense rant that vaccines are 'murdering our children'] by James Cheng-Morris (August 31, 2021) ''Yahoo! News''</ref> Defending her non-practicing status, de Buisseret maintained:<ref name=”reuters200721”>[https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-vaccines-legal-idUSL1N2OW1CQ/ COVID-19 vaccines approved by UK health regulator are being delivered legally] (July 20, 2021) ''Reuters''</ref> {{Quotebox|I’ve explained multiple times already that I am not conducting ‘reserved legal activity’ so do not require a practising certificate.}}

"I am not 'anti-vaccine'," de Buisseret maintained, but, "I am against the use of experimental gene treatments." She demonstrated her not antivax beliefs by going on to state:<ref name=”mailOnline080122”>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10382693/Six-million-people-follow-anti-vaxxer-lies-social-media.html Millions are following anti-vaxxer lies: Probe reveals the vast influence of social media posts that Chris Whitty says 'misled' many of those now fighting Covid in hospital] by Michael Powell and Natasha Livingstone (January 8, 2022) ''The Mail on Sunday''</ref> {{Quotebox|The vaxxed have been deceived, lied to, coerced, threatened, intimidated, harassed, guilt tripped and shamed into taking part in this live human experiment.}}

In an email response to Reuters, de Buisseret challenged fact checkers to prove it “factually incorrect to state that both domestic and international laws are being broken here in the [[UK]],” so they did and have continued to do so.<ref name=”reuters200721” />

====Factually incorrect on international law====
The British Institute of Human Rights says that while enforced vaccination would be a violation of [[human rights]], voluntary vaccination protects the right to life and to be safe from serious harm. Furthermore, vaccines and medicines are routinely monitored as they are rolled out ''en masse'', and this does not mean that they are experimental or untested. Therefore, their administration does not constitute crimes against humanity or genocide as de Buisseret claimed.<ref name=”reuters200721” />

====Factually incorrect on domestic law====
The COVID-19 vaccines have been tested, licensed and monitored to ensure “the highest standards of safety are met and maintained” in accordance with [[United Kingdom|UK]] law by the {{wpl|Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency}} (MHRA). Severe side effects have been shown to be extremely rare, undermining the assumption of harm upon which de Buisseret's legal argument rests.<ref name=”reuters200721” />

Law professor Michael Thomson of the University of Technology Sydney and University of Leeds, maintains: {{Quotebox|Given regulatory approval, and the overwhelming weight of biomedical data regarding efficacy and the extent to which the benefits outweigh the risks, a court is highly unlikely to see [the vaccine] as experimental. The nature of the risks and benefits also mean that a child or young person may well have sufficient understanding and intelligence to fully understand the proposed vaccination, and will therefore be able to provide consent.<ref name=”reuters290921” />}}

"She's just wrong," responded barrister {{wpl|Adam Wagner}} to her comments about children being unable to give informed consent for vaccination, continuing:
{{Quotebox|Firstly, as long as a parent consents to their child having the vaccine, they can have it, as long as it’s allowed by the NHS&nbsp;– which it is [for people with medical conditions in the 12 to 15 group, and all over-16s]. Second, if a child wants to consent themselves without their parents’ consent, or without their parents knowing&nbsp;– for example if their parents are vaccine deniers&nbsp;– they have just got to have an adequate understanding of the pros and cons, known as {{wpl|Gillick competence||.}}<ref name=”yahoo310821” />}}

Barrister Bianca Jackson added:
{{Quotebox|In general, the administration of childhood vaccines is considered to be in a child’s best interests and vaccines are not considered ‘experimental’. Indeed, there are no reported cases&nbsp;– in either private or public law&nbsp;– where the court has refused an application to vaccinate following a contested hearing.<ref name=”reuters290921” />}}

De Buisseret seemed confused about ''Bell v Tavistock'', concluded Jackson, stating:
{{Quotebox|She claims in the video that ''Bell v Tavistock'' means that children under 18 cannot consent. In actuality, ''Bell v Tavistock'' said: (i)&nbsp;the presumption remains that children 16 and over have the ability to consent to puberty blockers; (ii)&nbsp;it is doubtful that a child aged 14 or 15 could understand and weigh the long-term risks and consequences of the administration of puberty blockers; and (iii)&nbsp;it is highly unlikely that a child aged 13 or under would be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers. This was not a blanket denial of a child’s ability to consent…<ref name=”reuters290921” />}}

Law professor Suzanne Ost of Lancaster University responded to de Buisseret's use of the ''Bell v Tavistock'' judgement:
{{Quotebox|There is no legal authority that supports the direct application of ''Bell v Tavistock'' to the issue of children, consent and mRNA vaccines. The Bell case was limited to puberty blockers and the [original] judgment makes this absolutely clear. Any extrapolation of the aspects of the judgment to children’s consent to mRNA vaccines would need to be argued in court.<ref name=”reuters290921” />}}

“''Bell and Tavistock'' was about a very different scenario to the vaccine," concluded Wagner, "Waving a copy of a legal case and very inaccurately describing [it] does not count as the law."<ref name=”yahoo310821” />

{{wpl|Bristows||}} law firm told Reuters that regulation of medicines and vaccines, in which they specialise, is “complex” and requires “a very high degree of legal specialism”. “Without clear evidence of such expertise," they added, "we urge anyone who comes across such claims to report the post to the social media operator concerned.”<ref name=”reuters200721” />

===Seana Kerr===
'''Seana Mary Kerr''' is a former award-winning midwife for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland turned anti-vax conspiracy theorist, whose pandemic shenanigans were ruled as posing a risk to the public.<ref name=sg270724>Stephen Gordon, [https://archive.ph/Iji3e Award-winning NI midwife suspended over Covid claims and mask advice to pregnant shop worker], June 27, 2024, ''Belfast Telegraph''</ref> In the face of disiplinary action she refered to herself as a "whistleblower" and stated "I stand over [sic] what I said during those times."<ref name=sg060725>Stephen Gordon, [https://archive.ph/W1wPY NI midwife who claimed pandemic was a ‘Trojan horse’ and told pregnant shop worker not to wear mask is struck off], June 6, 2025, ''Belfast Telegraph''</ref> She was suspended<ref name=nmc200624>[https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/ftpoutcomes/2024/june-2024/reasons-kerr-ftpcsh-80056-20240620.pdf Fitness to Practise Committee Substantive Hearing: Seana Mary Kerr (07I0143N)], June 17–20, 2024, ''Nursing and Midwifery Council''</ref> and later struck off<ref name=nmc030625>[https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/ftpoutcomes/2025/june-2025/reasons-kerr-ftpcsorm-80056-20250603.pdf Fitness to Practise Committee Substantive Order Review Meeting: Seana Mary Kerr (07I0143N)], June 3, 20245, ''Nursing and Midwifery Council''</ref> by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

====A Trogan [sic] horse====
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust first heard concerns about Kerr's social media posts in October 2020. Between 27 September 2020 and 19 December 2021, Kerr publicly identifying herself as a midwife on social media, made a series of batshit statements, including:
*Claiming that babies were being harmed in the womb due to maternal vaccination (27 September 2020).
*Asserting that healthcare professionals complicit in the Covid-19 response could no longer claim ignorance, and suggesting the pandemic was a "Trogan [sic] horse" for ushering in a new era for humanity (4 March 2021).
*Alleging that the narrative around Covid-19, including references to some bat in China, had been deliberately seeded during Christmas 2020 (19 December 2021).
These statements formed part of the allegations against her regarding the promotion of misinformation.

In November 2020, a separate complaint was made after Kerr gave unsolicited medical advice to a visibly pregnant shop worker, advising against the flu vaccine and facemask use during pregnancy. On or around 14 August 2020, Kerr identifying herself as a midwife, gave unsolicited medical advice to a visibly pregnant shop assistant. She advised:
*Not to wear a face mask during pregnancy, claiming it reduced oxygen to the baby.
*Not to receive a flu vaccination.
*That receiving the flu vaccine could increase the risk of stillbirth.
The woman later reported this to her attending midwife, who escalated the matter. The woman’s partner also lodged a complaint, citing unprofessional behavior. These comments also contributed to the allegations of spreading misinformation and unprofessional conduct.

Further allegations emerged during the investigation, including additional online content by Kerr promoting Covid-19 conspiracy theories and questioning vaccine effectiveness.

Declared unfit to practice, Kerr was placed on a 12-month suspension order at a virtual Substantive Hearing held by the Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practise Committee between 17 June and 20 June 2024, at which she failed to appear.<ref name=nmc200624 /> Failing to show remorse for her misconduct, nor demonstrating any insight into her actions, she was struck off at a virtual Substantive Order Review Meeting on 3 June 2025.<ref name=nmc030625 />

===Tess Lawrie===
[[File:Tess_Lawrie.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Tess Lawrie demonstrating the delicate art of cherry-picking.]]
{{cquote|[Tess] Lawrie has a large online following of vaccine sceptics to whom she spruiks the dangers of vaccines while holding up ivermectin as an effective treatment. Indeed, she’s weaponised the meta-analysis as part of her pro-ivermectin, anti-vaccine campaign – views that are at odds with the impartiality expected of someone carrying out a meta-analysis.|||Elizabeth Finkel on COVID pandemic fraud<ref name=”cosmoc071021”>[https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/covid/data-detectives-ivermectin-studies/ Data detectives dig into ivermectin studies] by Elizabeth Finkel (October 7, 2021) ''Cosmos''</ref>}} 

{{cquote|Ivermectin works. There's nothing that will persuade me [it doesn't]. The only issues with the evidence base are the relentless efforts to undermine it.|||Tess Lawrie on her commitment to evidence-based medicine<ref name=”bbcnews061021”>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58170809 Ivermectin: How false science created a Covid 'miracle' drug] by Rachel Schraer and Jack Goodman (October 6, 2021) ''BBC Reality Check''</ref>}}

'''Theresa Anne Lawrie''' {{lived|June 1967|}}<ref name="CompaniesHouseLawrie">[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/UDoKECnskl8ObjewtYGBUpSca_g/appointments Theresa Anne LAWRIE] ''Companies House''</ref> is a former obstetrician<ref name="GMCLawrie">[https://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/3634680 Theresa Anne LAWRIE] ''General Medical Council''</ref> turned obstinate [[anti-vax]] activist and inveterate [[ivermectin]] pusher. During the pandemic she founded pseudo-medical organizations the British Ivermectin Recommendation Development (BIRD) group and the {{wpl|World Council for Health|| (WCH),}} and convened Better Way Conference. She has not been licensed to practice since August 9, 2021, and as of March 25, 2024 is no longer registered with the {{wpl|General Medical Council|| (GMC).}}<ref name="GMCLawrie" />

====Ivermectin's for the birds====
In January 2021, Lawrie, through her seemingly misnamed Evidence-Based Medicine Consultancy, published a rapid review, in support of the claims of misguided activist group {{wpl|Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance|| (FLCCC),}} which erroneously found in favour of the effectiveness of ivermectin against COVID-19. This antiparasitic drug has not, in fact, been shown to be an effective treatment or preventative for COVID-19. Lawrie's meta-analysis was not peer-reviewed prior to release and was found to have cherry-picked studies with unacknowledged limitations, including:
*a preprint which was withdrawn due to plagiarism and potential data fabrication,
*three then ongoing clinical trials which produced inconclusive results, and
*a report by a data analyst with no training in medicine or biology.
The meta-analysis also disregards more recent higher-quality studies which found no significant benefit from the treatment.<ref name=”feedback220321”>Zdenek Zadrazil, [https://science.feedback.org/review/ivermectin-isnt-a-highly-effective-drug-for-treating-covid-19-tess-lawrie/ Ivermectin isn’t a highly effective drug for treating COVID-19], March 22, 2021, ''Science Feedback''</ref><ref name=”feedback250421”>[https://science.feedback.org/review/current-data-from-clinical-trials-offer-no-reliable-evidence-that-ivermectin-is-effective-against-covid-19-better-quality-clinical-trials-are-needed-to-resolve-this-question/ Current data from clinical trials offer no reliable evidence that ivermectin is effective against COVID-19; better-quality clinical trials are needed to resolve this question] by Flora Teoh (April 25, 2021) ''Science Feedback''</ref>

She nonetheless went on to form the British Ivermectin Recommendation Development (BIRD) group as a counterpart to the US-based FLCCC in using crowdfunding to push protocols for the use of ivermectin which Lawrie claimed could end the pandemic in weeks. Lawrie responded to criticisms of BIRD's partnership with [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr]]'s antivax Children's Health Defense by stating it “irrelevant to the global need for early safe and effective treatment for Covid-19”.<ref name=”guardian130921”>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/13/ivermectin-treatment-covid-19-anti-vaxxers-advocates Ivermectin frenzy: the advocates, anti-vaxxers and telehealth companies driving demand] by Nick Robins-Early (September 13, 2021) ''Guardian''</ref><ref name=”sciam290921”>[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fringe-doctors-groups-promote-ivermectin-for-covid-despite-a-lack-of-evidence/ Fringe Doctors’ Groups Promote Ivermectin for COVID despite a Lack of Evidence] by Christina Szalinski (September 29, 2021) ''Scientific American''</ref><ref name=”bbcnews061021” />

====Bird-brained ideas on vaccine safety====
The COVID-19 vaccines have be shown to be safe with the benefits vastly outweighing the risks of the disease. Lawrie's claims to the contrary are based on a (deliberate) misunderstanding of UK's {{wpl|Yellow Card Scheme|Yellow Card}} and WHO's {{wpl|VigiBase|VigiAccess}} systems. These databases collect reports from the public of adverse reactions, however, the vast majority of reports are for minor, transitory and expected reactions, and even the more serious reports do not necessarily have a causal relationship with the vaccines. Global Health Policy and Data Institute director Timothy Mackey confirms, "absolute numbers of adverse events that are presented by these anti-vaxx groups are influenced by a higher number of non-serious adverse events and also unvalidated reports," and this is done, "to amplify concerns about (the) safety of vaccines." In actuality the number of confirmed serious adverse events, "is very low."<ref name=”feedback160621”>[https://science.feedback.org/review/yellow-card-scheme-for-adverse-events-does-not-suggest-any-new-side-effects-of-covid-19-vaccines-tess-lawrie/ Yellow Card scheme for adverse events does not suggest any new side effects of COVID-19 vaccines] by Ian Le Guillou (June 16, 2021) ''Science Feedback''</ref><ref name=”afo190523”>[https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33FG4ZC Posts misrepresent reports in WHO vaccine safety database] by Marisha Goldhamer (May 19, 2023) ''AFP''</ref>

There is also no evidence of serious harm from the [[HPV vaccine]], despite Lawrie's claims to the contrary in a March 10, 2024, Xcretion.<ref name=”fullfact030424”>[https://fullfact.org/health/tess-lawrie-hpv-vaccine/ HPV vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective] by Leo Benedictus (April 3, 2024) ''FullFact''</ref>

===Tracey McCallum===
[[File:TraceyMcCallum.jpeg|thumb|right|165px|Tracey McCallum and all the evidence for her claims.]]
{{cquote|We consider the misconduct serious because over a significant period Miss McCallum used her status as a registered nurse to widely promote health advice which was contrary to recommended practice and official health advice.|||Nursing and Midwifery Council report<ref name=nmc>[https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/ftpoutcomes/2025/april-2025/reasons-mccallum-ftpcsorh-80745-20250415.pdf Substantive Order Review Hearing], ''Nursing and Midwifery Council: Fitness to Practise Committee'', 15 April 2025</ref>}}

'''Tracey McCallum''' {{lived|December 1974|}}<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/bM1ATLVXxuG2gpjlfAJ5Z79IYIM/appointments Tracey McCallum] ''Companies House''</ref> is a former registered nurse with twenty-years experience in spinal injuries and addiction services with {{wpl|NHS 24}} turned anti-vax conspiracy theorist.<ref name=hind2021>Sally Hind, [https://archive.ph/BpfwC NHS nurse who branded covid 'scamdemic' sacked for posting conspiracy theories], ''Daily Record'', 28 Nov 2021</ref> During the pandemic, she pushed conspiry theories from the likes of {{wpl|Vernon Coleman||,}} [[David Icke]], and [[Russia Today]] proclaiming Covid-19 a "scamdemic," warning of government "genocide" plans, and accusing the NHS of war crimes. Dismissing vaccines, masks, and PCR tests as tools of mass oppression, she instead promoted quack cures like hydroxychloroquine, vitamin D and zinc supplements.<ref>[https://archive.ph/9bRhH Ayrshire nurse who branded covid 'scamdemic' sacked for posting conspiracy theories], ''Kilmarnock Standard'', 29 Nov 2021</ref> She was also found to have shared details about a patient’s health and information about a work colleague in a social media post, breaching confidentiality.<ref>Paul Behan, [https://archive.ph/DH0c4 'Scamdemic' nurse suspended for promoting conspiracy theories during Covid-19 pandemic], ''Ayrshire Live'', 13 Nov 2024</ref> Unsurprisingly, the Nursing and Midwifery Council eventually suspended her for serious misconduct,<ref>Sally Hind, [https://archive.ph/eqVOg Scots nurse who branded Covid 'scamdemic' has registration suspended by watchdog amid probe], ''Daily Record'', 21 Dec 2021</ref> she allowed this suspension to lapse as she retired from nursing to work as a chiropractic recepionist.<ref name=dailyrecord220425>Sally Hind, [https://archive.ph/XAkW0 Scots nurse who pedalled 'scamdemic' Covid-19 conspiracy theories officially quits profession], ''Daily Record'', 22 Apr 2025</ref>

====Nursing a grudge====
McCallum first gained attention through incoherent, error-ridden social media posts promoting conspiracy theories and COVID-19 misinformation.<ref name=nmc /> She questioned the severity of the pandemic, labeled COVID-19 a "scamdemic," and framed public health measures as part of a global plan for control and harm. She spread fears about government isolation camps, forced quarantines, and loss of freedoms, while endorsing notorious cranks [[David Icke]] and {{wpl|Vernon Coleman||,}} and fringe platforms [[Russia Today]] and [[BitChute]]. She dismissed vaccines and masks as dangerous, promoted discredited treatments like hydroxychloroquine and vitamin D, accused the NHS and government of corruption and genocide, and claimed primary care was being intentionally dismantled.

Building upon the exposure she received from these posts, she pressed her claims on a small tour of conspiratorial podcasts, imcluding two appearances on ''The Richie Allen Show'' (19 November 2020 and 16 November 2021) and one on ''The Shelley Tasker Show'' (Cornwall Revolution Radio, 25 November 2020).<ref name=nmc /> During these appearances, she repeated her unsupported claims questioning the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, alleging insufficient testing, rushed production timelines, and suggesting links to global depopulation agendas. She continued criticizing masks as harmful and ineffective, causing hypoxia or illness. And accusing the government, NHS, and pharmaceutical companies of corruption and deception, referencing population control theories involving figures like [[Bill Gates]] and [[Boris Johnson]]. Additional claims involved distrust in public health messaging, skepticism over the Yellow Card reporting system, fears about authoritarian control, and comparisons to historical atrocities such as the Holocaust.

Reached for comment by ''The Daily Record''<ref name=hind2021 /> and ''The Daily Mirror'',<ref>Sally Hind and Tom Davidson, [https://archive.ph/RvNuf NHS nurse who called Covid a 'scamdemic' is sacked for spreading conspiracy theories], ''The Mirror'', 29 Nov 2021</ref> she defendeded her bullshit, pleading that she had been targeted for questioning official narratives and expressing scepticism about vaccines and masks.<ref name=nmc /> She continued pushing hydroxychloroquine, citing her personal preference for established treatments and refusing to promote new vaccines. She also drew parallels between nurses' during the Holocaust and the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, emphasizing her unfounded concerns over side effects and ethical responsibility. Finally, she criticized mainstream media influence and encouraged everyone to do their own research.

===John O'Looney===
[[File:JohnOLooney.jpg|thumb|right|165px|"You merely adopted the lunacy. I was born in it."]][[File:YoureALoony.gif|thumb|right|165px|Given the recognition he deserves.]]{{cquote|John O’Looney, a funeral director and antivaxer, had been due to speak at the march but is believed to be in hospital with [[COVID]].|||Tom Ball, ''The Sunday Times''<ref name=times010122>[https://archive.ph/uyNRn Antivaxers threaten ‘radical action’ after boxing drills on beach] by Tom Ball (January 1, 2022) ''The Sunday Times'' (archived January 1, 2022)</ref>}}

{{cquote|Yes, Mr Amis, it’s very droll. I’m just wondering whether perhaps the name you’ve given to this eccentric conspiracy theorist is a touch lacking in subtlety.|||Michael Deacon, ''The Telegraph''<ref name=telegraph040122>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2022/01/04/bizarre-anti-vaccine-conspiracy-theory-yet/ Way of the Worldl] by Michael Deacon (January 4, 2022) ''The Telegraph''</ref>}}

'''John O'Looney''' {{lived|1968|}}<ref name="CompaniesHouse">[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/scNSEXpDD04MC8nkuEihA02gAkM/appointments John O'LOONEY] ''Companies House''</ref> is a [[United Kingdom|British]] funeral director,<ref name=”mkcitizen040122”>[https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/milton-keynes-funeral-director-whos-an-avid-anti-vaxxer-ends-up-in-hospital-with-covid-3514225 Milton Keynes funeral director who's an avid anti-vaxxer ends up in hospital with Covid] by Sally Murrer (January 4, 2022) ''MK Citizen''</ref> [[antivaxxer]], and [[COVID-19 denialism|COVID-19 denialist]] known for catching [[COVID-19]], supporting clottish claims about the vaccinated, and exemplifying {{wpl|nominative determinism||.}} O'Looney has made a litany of false claims in viral videos debunked by fact checkers throughout the pandemic.<ref name=”fullfact281021”>[https://fullfact.org/health/funeral-director-interview/ False claims from funeral director about facemasks, vaccines and the pandemic] by Daniella de Block Golding (October 28, 2021) ''Full Fact''</ref><ref name=”youtube140424”>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMCmldX0sck YouTube Dr interviews man who thinks vaccinated people might "illuminate".] by Culture Catz (April 14, 2024) ''YouTube''</ref>

====Grave concerns====
Early in the pandemic, O'Looney expressed concerns over the emotional and financial burdens being placed on families by the pandemic and the resultant government restrictions on funeral attendance, which he attempted to alleviate by offering half-price unattended, cremation-only funerals.<ref name=”mkcitizen060420”>[https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/funeral-director-demands-help-for-people-struggling-to-pay-for-funerals-of-loved-ones-in-milton-keynes-2531003 Funeral director demands help for people struggling to pay for funerals of loved ones in Milton Keynes] by Sally Murrer (April 6, 2020) ''MK Citizen''</ref><ref name=”bbcnews070420”>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52193244 Coronavirus: Bodies 'could be left at hospital' amid virus finance fears] by Matt Precey (April 7, 2020) ''BBC Look East''</ref>

Following the identification of [[COVID-19 vaccine#Omicron and boosters|Omicron variant]] in November 2021, O'Looney claimed the virus was just a common cold and that the [[COVID-19 vaccine]], like [[chemotherapy]], inhibited the immune system, in a video statement: {{Quotebox|We're in winter and there are colds and flus about at this time of the year. These people [who have been vaccinated] can't fight it off. The government were very quick to label it as Omicron, a new variant. — John O'Looney<ref name=”yahoonews050122”>[https://sg.news.yahoo.com/john-o-looney-piers-corbyn-anti-vaxxer-covid-vaccine-coronavirus-162233353.html Leading anti-vaxxer finally admits COVID is real after being taken to ICU with virus] by Jimmy Nsubuga (January 5, 2021) ''Yahoo! News''</ref>}} 

On December 14, 2021, O'Looney doubled down on his mistaken belief about Omicron being a common cold and the vaccine inhibiting the immune system, in a Tweet that did not age well: {{Quotebox|Just getting over the cold doing the rounds - three days in and I'm feeling back on the right path. This is the one that is decimating the "protected" for weeks. Wonder why I'm so resilient ? — John O'Looney}}

He was, unfortunately, unable to attend O'Looney was unable to attend the "Let the UK Live" anti-vax "freedom rally" in his hometown of Milton Keynes as he was in the ICU having discovered first-hand the reality of the pandemic he had previously denied, finally admitting: {{Quotebox|I was initially sceptical about Covid but I can confirm it’s validity and it is very nasty. But I can also tell you it is 100% man-made this is not a natural virus and this is an attack on all of us – it’s a bio weapon. — John O'Looney<ref name=”mkcitizen040122” /><ref name=”yahoonews050122” /><ref name=joe060122 />}}

O'Looney, with the assistance of retired policeman turned [[sovereign citizen]] [[Mark Sexton]], discharged himself from hospital on Christmas Eve against medical advice claiming, "I feel very fortunate to have escaped hospital (I never dreamt I would have lived to say that)." O'Looney subsequently told tall tales of how he foiled the doctors' attempts to kill him by refusing their experimental treatments (including something called {{wpl|remdesivir||)}} and eventually escaping; how the staff became suspiciously frustrated by his repeated refusal of treatment; oh and also how the food they served was tasteless (although that last one may have been due to the COVID).<ref name=”yahoonews050122” /><ref name=joe060122>[https://www.joe.co.uk/coronavirus/leading-british-anti-vaxxer-hospitalised-with-covid-309951 Leading British anti-vaxxer hospitalised with covid] by Kieran Galpin (January 6, 2022) ''JOE''</ref>

{{Quotebox|I’d say I actually feel like I’ve been poisoned – this is my thing but a natural virus and these bastards have a lot to answer for. I’d urge people to avoid hospital at all costs personally based on my experience in it. There was no emphasis on healing me at all and the focus was only on getting me to agree to as many experimental drugs as the Oxford University rep could coerce me into agreeing to take
In fact in the few days I was in there I met a consultant just once briefly and for the time it took him to accept I wasn’t going to be a guinea pig. I never saw him again after that, but I was visited several times by the gates funded Oxford university rep at my bedside …… I’ve never ever seen this type of mercenary Frankenstein bullshit in a British hospital before and never want to see it again. — John O'Looney<ref name=”yahoonews050122” /><ref name=dailymail050122>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10371329/Leading-anti-vaxxer-misses-rally-going-hospital-Covid.html Leading anti-vaxxer funeral director misses rally with Piers Corbyn after being admitted to ICU with 'very nasty' Covid - but urges followers NOT to go to hospital if they catch virus] by Mark Duell (January 5, 2022) ''Mail Online''</ref>}}

Now convinced of the reality of the pandemic, O'Looney quickly pivoted to anti-vax activism.

====Pandemic lunacy====
O'Looney has been a vocal supporter of the entirely unsubstantiated claims made by fellow funeral director [[Richard Hirschman]] that the vaccinated are being killed by a previously unknown type of blood clot which takes the shape of the blood vessel it grows in. He even appeared alongside Hirschman in {{wpl|Stew Peters||'}} discredited "documentary" ''{{wpl|Died Suddenly||}}'' despite numerous fact-checks from pathologists and fellow embalmers that these were normal clots, and any increase was most likely due to the extended time bodies were spending in refrigeration O'Looney himself had noted early in the pandemic.<ref name=politifact280122>[https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/feb/09/newswars/no-clear-evidence-covid-19-vaccines-are-responsibl/ Embalmers finding ‘strange clots’ in jabbed people], by Naseem Ferdowsi (February 9, 2022) ''PolitiFact''</ref><ref name=afpfactcheck291122>[https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.32VB23Q 'Died Suddenly' film amplifies false Covid-19 vaccine claims] by Marisha Goldhamer (November 29, 2022) ''AFP Fact Check''</ref><ref name=factcheck011222>[https://www.factcheck.org/2022/12/scicheck-died-suddenly-pushes-bogus-depopulation-theory/ ‘Died Suddenly’ Pushes Bogus Depopulation Theory] by Saranac Hale Spencer, Jessica McDonald and Catalina Jaramillo (December 1, 2022) ''FactCheck.org''</ref>

The WHO did not change the definition of pandemic, which is declared “when there have been verified community-level outbreaks of a new influenza virus, passing from human-to-human, in two or more countries in more than one WHO region,” despite O'Looney's claim it was redefined to allow a harmless flu to be classified as such.<ref name=”fullfact281021” />

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is, according to overwhelming scientific consensus, a zoonotic spillover, and not, as O'Looney has variously claimed, either a harmless flu<ref name=”fullfact281021” /> or a man-made bio-weapon engineered to frighten people into getting vaccinated. Furthermore, ivermectin has been shown to have no effect on controlling the virus, contrary to O'Looney's claim. Finally, anecdotal evidence is not sufficient to counter either of these facts, no matter what O'Looney says.<ref name=”youtube140424” />

73,766 deaths due to COVID-19 in England and Wales were registered between March and December 2020, contrary to O'Looney's claim of no “pandemic death rate” that year. Furthermore, widespread death in care homes in the first wave of the pandemic was, in fact, due to COVID-19 and not, as he claims, a government euthanasia campaign using end of life care drug midazolam.<ref name=”fullfact281021” /> Finally, his claim of seeing vials in the bins is not the evidence for the 1,000% increase in the use of the drug he claims it is.<ref name=”youtube140424” />

Face-masks have been found useful in preventing the spread of Covid-19, despite O'Looney's claims to the contrary. And there is no evidence for his claim they cause pneumonia.<ref name=”fullfact281021” />

Authorised COVID-19 vaccines have been through the normal trial stages with the results published in peer-reviewed journals, despite O'Looney's claims to the contrary.<ref name=”fullfact281021” /> Furthermore, the vaccinated are not dying suddenly from myocarditis or turbo cancers nor do they illuminate under a UV light as he has claimed. And, finally, this not, as he seems to fear, a sign that it is the Mark of the Beast.<ref name=”youtube140424” />

The highest ranks of the political class did not avoid the vaccine, despite O'Looney's claim that this is the reason they are not dying suddenly in large numbers. Furthermore the majority are surprisingly human, contrary to his claims that they have no humanity in them and are literally not human.<ref name=”youtube140424” />

====Other lunacy====
There is no evidence that surveys are being undertaken to replace every single farm in the UK with a solar farm, despite O'Looney apparently being told this in a lengthy conversation with the surveyor looking over the farmland at the back of his house.<ref name=”youtube140424” />

Unfortunately, it has been impossible to fact check O'Looney's claim that ''Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire'' features, "golden orbs of wisdom that fell from the tree of life," as it is unclear what the hell that even means.<ref name=”youtube140424” />

===Mark Sexton===
[[File:MarkSexton.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Who's got two thumbs and no idea how the law works?]]
'''Mark Sexton''' {{lived|1961}} is a [[United Kingdom|British]] retired [[Law enforcement|police officer]] turned [[Anti-vaccination movement|anti-vaxxer]], [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracist]] and [[Organised Pseudolegal Commercial Argument Schemes in the United Kingdom|pseudolegal scheme]] proponent,<ref name=”reuters270621”>[https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-vaccines-safe-idUSL1N2P51T3/ Approved vaccines are not more dangerous than COVID-19] (July 29, 2021) ''Reuters''</ref><ref name=”reuters030821”>[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2PA0JO/ FOIs about PCR cycles, cremations and SARS-CoV-2 do not prove the pandemic was a hoax] (August 3, 2021) ''Reuters''</ref> who is best known for his criminally reckless misunderstanding of the law and the workings of the justice system.

====An uncommon lawman====
Sexton came to prominence via a self-filmed video of his June 18, 2021, visit to Leamington Police Station to request the arrest and prosecution of Stratford MP and vaccine minister {{wpl|Nadhim Zahawi||}} for the criminal offence of misconduct in public office, and to demand that vaccines be stopped as a matter of urgency. Warwickshire Police said that they would be taking no further action as a result of the contact.<ref name=”stratfordherald270621”>[https://www.stratford-herald.com/news/anti-vaxxer-tries-to-get-vaccine-minister-nadhim-zahawi-arre-9204968/ Anti-vaxxer and ex-policeman Mark Sexton tries to get vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi arrested] by Gill Sutherland (June 27, 2021) ''Stratford Herald''</ref> 

At an anti-vaxx/anti-lockdown protest in Parliament Square on July 19, 2021, Sexton made the extraordinary claim that unless the lockdown was lifted and the vaccine rollout halted, citizens had the right to forcibly arrest MPs and ministers and establish common law courts. This was interpreted as a reference to some kind of [[Organised Pseudolegal Commercial Argument Schemes in the United Kingdom|pseudolegal scheme]] or other, a number of which were gaining popularity in the UK at that time.<ref name=”vicenews180821”>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj8azx/anti-lockdown-and-sovereign-citizen-protesters-tried-to-capture-edinburgh-castle-they-failed Anti-Lockdown Protesters Tried to Capture a Scottish Castle. They Failed.] by Tim Hume (August 18, 2021) ''VICE News''</ref> 

In July 2022, Sexton issued, "under common law," which is not to be confused with actual law, his own worthless arrest warrants for a number of prominent politicians, government advisors and media executives.<ref name=”twitter230622”>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220723170515/https://twitter.com/Shayan86/status/1550889477824036866 UK sovereign citizen Mark Sexton has issued fake arrest warrants "under common law" for Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Priti Patel, Chris Whitty, Patrick Vallance, BBC Director-General and others. A reminder that these warrants are worthless and have no basis in law.] by Shayan Sardarizadeh (July 23, 2022) ''Twitter'' (Archived July 23, 2022)</ref><gallery>
File:ArrestWarrantJohnson.jpg|Fake arrest warrant for [[Boris Johnson]]
File:ArrestWarrantSunak.jpg|Fake arrest warrant for [[Rishi Sunak]]
File:ArrestWarrantPatel.jpg|Fake arrest warrant for [[Priti Patel]]
File:ArrestWarrantWhitty.jpg|Fake arrest warrant for {{wpl|Chris Whitty}}
File:ArrestWarrantRyley.jpg|Fake arrest warrant for {{wpl|John Ryley}}
</gallery>
We would very much like to see him try and serve one.

===Sam White===
[[File:SamWhite.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Sam White thinking of using you for his pleasure.]]

{{cquote|This is not a conspiracy theory, it is a conspiracy of fact.||| Sam White<ref name=mptsReport>[https://www.mpts-uk.org/-/media/mpts-rod-files/dr-samuel-white-27-aug-24.pdf Record of Determinations – Medical Practitioners Tribunal] ''MPTS''</ref>}}
{{cquote|Dr White’s baseless claims and scaremongering would have had an adverse influence on scared and worried members of the public.||| Medical Practitioners Tribunal<ref name=mptsReport />}}

'''Samuel White''' {{lived|February 1980|}}<ref name="CompaniesHouseWhite">[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/DzUiLa_QYoLrTR3odh1X2DOg05A/appointments Samuel Ross WHITE] ''Companies House''</ref> is a [[Alternative medicine|holistic practitioner]]<ref name=”SamWhite1”>[https://www.drsamwhite.com/index.html Dr Sam White] ''Dr Sam White''</ref> and former NHS GP<ref name="GMCWhite">[https://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/6098658 Samuel Ross WHITE] ''General Medical Council''</ref> with "libertarian principles"<ref name=”bbcnews051121”>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-59174846 Covid 'misinformation' doctor appeals GMC conditions] (November 5, 2021) ''BBC News''</ref> who was temporarily suspended and gagged for spreading medical misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=”pulse241121”>[https://archive.ph/Bylfe GPs who criticise Covid vaccine on social media ‘vulnerable’ to GMC investigation] by Costanza Potter and Tom Porter (November 24, 2021) ''Pulse'' (Archived February 9, 2022)</ref> He went viral celebrating the lifting of that gag order by seeming to broadcast his sexual kinks to the world.<ref name=”indy100061221”>[https://www.indy100.com/viral/dr-sam-white-embarassing-message-gb-news-b1970739 GB News guest says hackers to blame after raunchy WhatsApp message from ‘Suzie Sub’ appeared on website] by Breanna Robinson (December 6, 2021) ''indy100''</ref><ref name=”mailonline071221”>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10285339/GP-appearance-GB-News-included-message-woman-says-hes-reported-hackers-police.html 'I've never met Suzie Sub': Vaccine-sceptic doctor whose appearance on ''GB News'' included a message from woman saying 'use me for your pleasure' says he's lived 'a sheltered life' and he's told police he has been the victim of hackers] by Sally Beck and Nick Craven (December 7, 2021) ''Mail Online''</ref> White was struck off by the {{wpl|General Medical Council|| (GMC)}}<ref name="GMCWhite" /> after being found guilty of misconduct in a virtual hearing (19 Aug 2024 to 27 Aug 2024) of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) which he did not attend.<ref name=mpts>[https://www.mpts-uk.org/hearings-and-decisions/medical-practitioners-tribunals/dr-samuel-white--aug-24 Dr Samuel WHITE Aug 24 (GMC number 6098658) - Medical practitioners tribunal details] ''GMC''</ref><ref>[https://archive.ph/YXuhL Vaccine sceptic GP, 44, who claimed 'masks do nothing' and spread misinformation about coronavirus on social media is struck off] by Matthew Lodge (September 12, 2024) ''Mail Online'' (Archived September 12, 2024)</ref><ref name=”pulse260924”>[https://archive.ph/OAIqw GP struck off for ‘dangerous’ claims about Covid pandemic] by Eliza Parr (September 16, 2024) ''Pulse'' (Archived September 26, 2024)</ref> He continues to conduct private holistic consultations for £345 for 60 minutes.<ref name=”SamWhite1” />

====Serious concerns==== 
In June 2021, White, who graduated from the {{wpl|University of Wales}} in 2004 and had been a registered GP since 2010,<ref name=mpts /> posted a seven-minute video clip to Instagram and Twitter in which he claimed to have resigned from his former role as a partner at the Denmead Health Centre in Hampshire, because of the ‘lies’ around the NHS and Government approach to the pandemic that were ‘so vast’ he could no longer ‘stomach or tolerate’ them. He specifically expressed unsubstantiated concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and testing methods and falsely claimed that ‘masks do nothing’.<ref name=”bbcnews051121” /><ref name=”pulse241121” />

Following "serious concerns" reported to the GMC, White was temporarily suspended from his position as a locum GP, and following the lifting of the suspension, was placed under a gag order for a maximum of 18 months, to prevent him "using some language that echoed [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]] about the pandemic," and "may have a real impact on patient safety."<ref name=”bbcnews051121” /> This was done in accordance with GMC ethical guidelines, also applying to social media, that doctors "must not impose [their] beliefs and values on patients or cause distress by the inappropriate or insensitive expression of them."<ref name=”pulse241121” />

Upon appeal to the {{wpl|High Court of Justice|High Court|,}} Justice {{wpl|Ian Dove||,}} with reference to provisions in the [[Human Rights Act 1998]], concluded that the GMC had made "an error of law and a clear misdirection," in restricting White's freedom to express medical misinformation.<ref name=”bbcnews031221”>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-59524620 Hampshire GP's Covid social media ban was wrong, court rules] (December 3, 2021) ''BBC News''</ref> Dove stressed he was expressing no views on the merits of White’s claims, but rather ruling on the tribunal’s decision making process.<ref name=”bmj071221”>[https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3033 Covid-19: High Court overturns decision to ban GP from posting views on pandemic on social media] by Clare Dyer (December 7, 2021) ''British Medical Journal''</ref>

====WhatsApp Doc?====
[[File:SamWhiteWhatsApp.jpg|thumb|right|165px|WhatsApp Doc?]]
White celebrated the lifting of the ban by immediately appearing on the ever-reliable ''[[GB News]]'' to repeat his claims. A clip of the interview, seemingly screen-recorded on an Apple device, which was uploaded to his own website, went viral after it was found to be interrupted part-way through by a WhatsApp message popping up on the screen reading: {{Quotebox|As you rest just give a thought to using me for your pleasure. Having me on my knees doing whatever you say... xxx. — Suzie Sub}}
This, according to White, must have been the work of hackers as he had "lived a very sheltered life" and "never met anyone like Susie."<ref name=”indy100061221” /><ref name=”mailonline071221” /> He says he reported the incident to the police and had a crime reference number, which is possibly where he got the idea for his next misadventure.

White appeared on the March 26, 2022, episode of ''GB News''<nowiki>'</nowiki> [[Neil Oliver|''Neil Oliver Live'']] still promoting the use of [[ivermectin]] for the treatment of COVID-19.<ref name=”gbnews260322”>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUojXUraTBg Dr Sam White and Sally Cutler discuss Ivermectin and the dangers of using it] (March 26, 2022) ''GB News''</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Alternative medicine promoters]]
[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:COVID-19 denialists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[category:Pseudolaw]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]

Categories: Alternative medicine promoters, Anti-vaccination movement, British people, COVID-19 denialists, Living people, Pseudolaw, Pseudoscience promoters, United Kingdom