Organised Pseudolegal Commercial Argument Schemes in the United Kingdom

{{bronze}}
[[File:Legal_Name_Fraud_poster.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Don't take legal advice from a billboard.]]{{pseudolaw}}{{conspiracynav|1}}
{{cquote|Ridiculous nonsense printed off from the internet.|||Adam Wagner, [[human rights]] Lawyer<ref>[https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201127-no-magna-carta-does-not-allow-firms-to-defy-covid-curbs No, Magna Carta does not allow firms to defy Covid curbs] (27 November 2020) ''AFP''</ref>}}
{{cquote|Go to a lawyer, not [[Google]].|||Ellie Cumbo, {{wpl|Law Society of England and Wales|The Law Society}}<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>}}

'''UK Organised Pseudolegal Commercial Argument (OPCA) schemes''' (including '''[[sovereign citizens]]''' and '''[[freeman on the land]]''') predominantly consist of anti-[[government]] activists who misapply English [[common law]] in the belief that [[Magna Carta#lawful rebellion|Clause 61 of the Magna Carta]] is legally relevant (spoiler: it never was)<ref name=citizens311021>[https://the-citizens.com/2021/10/how-sovereign-citizen-ideology-found-a-home-in-the-uks-anti-vax-movement/ Putting the UK on notice: How US legal fiction inspired aggressive action from UK anti-vaxxers] by Katherine Denkinson (October 31, 2021) ''The Citizens''</ref> and applies across the whole of the country (spoiler: it never did). The ideology, which dates back to the 1970s in its native [[USA]], first started to gain momentum in the UK around 2010 and boomed during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] with [[antivax]], anti-lockdown, and [[COVID-19 denialism in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 denialism]] sentiment. The movement has developed its own media outlets and its own [[Illegal schools in the United Kingdom#Illegal conspirituality schools|illegal schools]].

==The one true law==
{{cquote|We rightly celebrate [[Magna Carta]] as an important part of our legal system, so it's understandable that people think that the full original text still has full legal standing.|||Ellie Cumbo, The Law Society<ref name=bbcnews060321 />}}

The [[pseudolaw|pseudolegal]] concept of ''lawful rebellion'', known within the UK's OPCA movements as ''the one true law'', comes from Clause 61 of the original 1215 Magna Carta which called for the election of a group of 25 barons to keep “the peace and liberties […] granted by this charter" with the right for them to "claim immediate redress" if any of the articles were broken. This version of the charter was struck down by the [[Pope]] within a couple of months and subsequent versions did not include this clause.<ref name=citizens311021 /> It is, nonetheless, held up by [[far right]] and anti-establishment activists as justification for rebellion against the legal and political "elites".<ref name=bbcnews060321 />

And while some are engaged in willful defiance of laws passed by [[elite]]s that they consider unjust, there are also those, notes The Law Society's Ellie Cumbo, who due to a lack of basic legal knowledge, exacerbated by poor advice found online, get swept along by the wrong idea about how law works.<ref name=bbcnews060321 />

==Lawless rebellion==
{{cquote|There is no such concept in our law as a sovereign citizen.|||Ellie Cumbo, The Law Society<ref name=bbcnews180122>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/59870550 Anti-vax protests: ‘Sovereign citizens’ fight UK Covid vaccine rollout] by Alistair Coleman and Shayan Sardarizadeh (18 January 2022) ''BBC News''</ref>}}

The freeman on the land movement crossed over to the UK with organisations such as the [[British Constitution Group]] and people such as the late [[John Harris]] (who later regretted joining the freeman movement), [[Brian Gerrish]], Raymond St Clair (a notorious [[conman]] and man of many aliases)<ref>[http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=203625 "Exposing the freemen/redemption gurus"] JREF</ref> and Dominic Lohan (a.k.a., CommonlyKnownAsDom). Freeman arguments came to UK public attention when they tried recruiting amongst the more [[anarchist]]-leaning protesters at the [[Occupy Wall Street|Occupy London]] protests in late 2011, and even got two articles in the ''Guardian''.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/15/debt-agencies-economy Yes, defaulting on debts is an option] (Jon Witterick, ''Guardian'', 2011-11-15)</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/15/welfare-education-law-occupy-london We are the change: welfare, education and law at the Occupy camp] ('commonly known as dom' [Dominic Lohan], ''Guardian'', 2011-11-15)</ref> These were promptly slapped down by actual lawyers who detailed how this was dangerous idiocy that would send you directly to jail.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2011/nov/16/law-protest-occupy-freemen The law is not the enemy of protest but an essential tool of impartiality] (Carl Gardner, ''Guardian'', 2011-11-16)</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/18/freeman-land-strategy-bullet-debt The freeman-on-the-land strategy is no magic bullet for debt problems] (Legal Bizzle, ''Guardian'', 2011-11-18)</ref><ref>[https://legalbizzle.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/comment-is-free-but-woo-is-sacred/ Comment is free, but woo is sacred] (Legalbizzle, ''The Bizzle'', 2011-11-15)</ref><ref name=wagnerlegalweek>[http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/blog-post/2125364/freemen-dangerous-nonsense Freemen of the dangerous nonsense] (Adam Wagner, ''Legal Week'', 2011-11-16)</ref> Freeman ideas are now an object of amusement for the British legal profession.<ref>[http://judiciary.sut1.co.uk/docs/benchmark/benchmark_feb2012.pdf "Nonsense or loophole?"] (''Benchmark'' #57, February 2012, p 18) &mdash; 
blatantly plagiarised
 lovingly referenced from this very article.</ref>

===Legal name fraud===
{{cquote|It's a kind of brew of pseudo-legal ideas. It's the equivalent of thinking [[Harry Potter]] is [[science]].|||Carl Gardner, law blogger and lecturer<ref name=bbcnews110716>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36499750 The mystery of the 'legal name fraud' billboards] by Jon Kelly (11 June 2016) ''BBC News Magazine''</ref>}}

In 2016 billboards appeared across the UK featuring the cryptic message: {{quotebox|LEGAL NAME FRAUD<p/>THE TRUTH<p />IT'S ILLEGAL TO USE A LEGAL NAME<ref name=bbcnews110716 />}}

This [[oxymoron]] writ large was in reference to a variation of [[strawman theory]] which claims that birth certificates give the state legal ownership of a personal name and that refusing to use this name denies the authority of state and courts. As the related and now defunct website legalnamefraud.com clarified:
{{quotebox|Simply thus, all legal names are owned by the Crown, and therefore using a legal name without their written permission is fraud.<ref name=bbcnews110716 />}}

Investigations by Jon Kelly for ''BBC News Magazine''<ref name=bbcnews110716 /> and Geoff Whelan for ''The Skeptic''<ref name=skeptic010416>[https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2016/04/legal-name-fraud-the-truth-its-hogwash/ ‘Legal Name Fraud’ – The Truth? It’s hogwash] by Jon Kelly (1 April 2016) ''The Skeptic''</ref> linked the billboards to [[Canadian]] freeman on the land "Kate of Gaia" (a.k.a., Wilfred Keith Thompson), Although neither were unable to confirm who had paid for them or the website. Of the "reams of this guff" on Kate's blog, Whelan highlights this indicative extract:
{{quotebox|In laymen’s terms, the ''clausula rebis sic stantibus'' is the escape clause where a FUNDAMENTAL change in circumstances renders contracts/treaties etc. null and void… the fundamental change moment?… it’s illegal to be legal anything, mind, body, spirit. The original Birth Certificate contract is the PROOF and EVIDENCE of a clear and present INTENT to deceive another by it’s mere existence… registry buildings are proof of intent to foment this deception… everything created to put this fraud into practice is proof of fraud intent ''ab initio'' (since before it was ACT-DEAD upon where you are ACT-DEAD until truth is ACT-DEED… when you throw down, with force, the dead legal name (all ideas ATTACHED/attacked to it), with intent to destroy that from your reality, the real Shemitah/CRSS comes into full force and effect..<ref name=skeptic010416 />}}

Whelan, a criminal barrister, confirms that while Kate of Gaia has used words such as proof, evidence and intent as well as some (misspelt) [[Latin]], the similarity to actual law ends there.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) confirmed that it had received complaints about the posters on the basis that they were ambiguous or [[Deceit|misleading]], in which, "Some questioned whether it would lead law-abiding people into thinking they've committed fraud or a crime by having a name." ASA, however, concluded that while it "may appear somewhat confusing to consumers and it wasn't initially clear what it was for or what it means", its message, "was not particularly harmful, misleading or likely to cause widespread offence, and unlikely to cause consumers confusion regarding their own name". 

Lecturer and law blogger Carl Gardner, however, disagreed:
{{quotebox|It is nothing about law, and it is not harmless. Taking this daftness seriously can be legally dangerous. If people try to use such things to avoid their legal obligations they can end up with county court judgments or even criminal convictions.<ref name=bbcnews110716 />}}

Whelan agrees, "Sadly this is not some harmless [[crank]] theory. People have actually relied on this nonsense in courts in the UK, Canada and the US."

===Pandemic shenanigans===
{{cquote|Some think they can opt out of law in the same way that some people think they can opt out of science and vaccines.|||Ellie Cumbo, The Law Society<ref name=bbcnews060321 />}}

The embrace of pseudolegal schemes parallels the rejection of "elitist" scientific expertise, which accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, notes The Law Society's Ellie Cumbo.<ref name=bbcnews060321 />

Anti-lockdown group Stand Up Bristol, which included tattoo artist turned [[conspiracy theorist]] [[Aron Walton]] in its reported 2,000 members, cited the Magna Carta in a threat to "seize public buildings" if Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees did not respond to their accusations of "treason" for his support for lockdown.<ref>[https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/covid-deniers-what-going-through-4519966 Covid-deniers: What is going through the heads of people who think coronavirus isn't real] by Conor Gogarty (19 September 2020) ''Bristol Live''</ref>

During the COVID-19 lockdown a pseudolegal scheme called the [[Great Reopening]] convinced a number of small business owners and managers, including Walton and [[Sinead Quinn]], to defy COVID-19 lockdown regulation and remain open while displaying a notice proclaiming their "right to enter into lawful dissent" and declaring the business "under the jurisdiction of common law". Needless to say, their legal challenges all failed.<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>

At an antivax/anti-lockdown protest in Parliament Square on July 19, 2021, [[Mark Sexton]], who is of all things a retired policeman, made the extraordinary claim that unless lockdown was lifted and the vaccine rollout halted, citizens had the right to forcibly arrest MPs and ministers and establish common law courts.<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> By July 2022, he was issuing, "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>

A mob approached the bench at the {{wpl|Royal Courts of Justice}} in September 2021 attempting to serve the judge with notice of his Covid-related "crimes" and telling court officials they would be "going to the gallows" for [[genocide]].<ref name=citizens311021 /><ref name=vicenews070122>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgdg7d/covid-conspiracy-theorists-alpha-men-assemble-hold-combat-training-sessions-in-uk COVID Conspiracy Theorists ‘Alpha Men Assemble’ Hold Combat Training Sessions in UK] by Tim Hume (7 January 2022) ''VICE News''</ref>

Michael Chaves and Jamie Freeman lead a mob to the homes of media personalities {{wpl|Hilary Jones (doctor)|Dr Hilary Jones}} and {{wpl|Jeremy Vine}} and to a hospital in Colchester to serve notices of liability for "[[crimes against humanity]]" and to threaten them with a common law [[Nuremberg trials|Nuremberg trial]]<ref name=citizens311021/> (whatever the hell that might be) on the apparent legal basis of the Pope stripping [[NHS]] workers of their "liability" in 2013 so they could thus be "held in their personal capacity."<ref name=mailonline211021>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10114013/Disgraceful-moment-anti-vaxxers-turn-Colchester-Hospital-accusing-medics-plandemic-crimes.html Anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists storm into hospital to serve 'legal documents' citing the 'Nuremberg Code' and accusing medics of complicity in 'crimes against humanity'] by Jack Wright (21 October 2021) ''MailOnline''</ref>

Glaswegian beautician Janie Walsh lead the group ''Magna Carta 61'' in serving notices to [[police]] accusing them of genocide and seizing {{wpl|Edinburgh Castle}} for an unemployed security guard whom they believe to be [[King Arthur]] and thus its "rightful owner".<ref name=citizens311021 />

During the pandemic, self-described "peace constable" Olli Riddett started advocating for [[illegal schools in the United Kingdom|illegal schools]] outside of mainstream education for the children of antivax/anti-lockdown parents.<ref name=vice011021>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvz9n4/sovereign-citizens-are-trying-to-set-up-their-own-anti-vax-schools-in-the-uk Sovereign Citizens Are Trying To Set Up Their Own Anti-Vax Schools in the UK] by Tim Hume (October 1, 2021) ''VICE News''</ref> A number of such schools, including [[HOPE Sussex]] and [[Universallkidz]] have been uncovered by the {{wpl|Ofsted|Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills| (Ofsted)}} and are under investigation.

===Mortgage mayhem===
{{cquote|If you borrow money, you’re required to repay it, and you only make the situation worse by trying to rely on false arguments which the courts are rejecting|||Head of Department in the FCA's Retail Banking Directorate Greg Sachrajda (in a statement which really shouldn't need saying)<ref name=wood080725>[https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/jun/08/freemen-on-the-land-fotl-mortgages-fca ‘Freemen on the land’: YouTube videos tell homeowners they aren’t bound by mortgages], 8 Jun 2025, ''The Guardian''</ref>}}

The {{wpl|Financial Conduct Authority}} (FCA) issued new guidance in May 2025,<ref name=wood080725 /> following a post-pandemic rise in popularity,<ref name=shelter>[https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/news_and_updates/freeman_on_the_land_case_law_round_up Freeman on the land case law round up], Jun 2025, ''Shelter''</ref> warning about firms pushing dangerous and deceptive "Freemen on the Land" claims that borrowers are not legally responsible for mortgages, taxes, or other debts, often citing interpretations rooted in archaic laws such as Magna Carta:<ref name=fca200525>[https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/struggling-mortgage-avoid-risky-offers Struggling with your mortgage? Avoid risky offers], 30 May 2025, ''Financial Conduct Authority'')</ref>
{{quotebox|We’re aware of mortgage holders in financial difficulty who are being misled by this online misinformation, often with serious financial consequences.}}

The FCA's Greg Sachrajda notes people at risk of losing their home are expecially, “susceptible to arguments that make things sound better,”<ref name=wood080725 /> however, the FCA warns:<ref name=fca200525 />
{{quotebox|Some of these mortgage holders have paid others a fee to take their claims to court to stop their homes being repossessed. But none of these claims have succeeded as they’re not legally valid.}}

Thirteen such claims were struckdown by Master of the High Court (King's Bench Division) Gary Thornett, ruling on 21 April 2023, as "incoherent and untenable, disclosing no recognizable cause of action." Despite being ostensibly seperate pleadings, Thornett noted that they contained the same “legal and factual oddities” and seemed to have an “unseen hand” behind them.<ref>[https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/KB/2023/1361.html England and Wales High Court (King's Bench Division) Decisions: Lewis v The West Brom (2023) EWHC 1361 (KB)], 7 Jun 2023, ''BAILII''</ref>

Master of the High Court (King's Bench Division) Mark Gidden, ruling on 26 April 2024, struckdown three further claims and issued orders in line with this judgement on over 200 more claims with "a near miraculous uniformity of common purpose, style, and prose". He also warned future litigants of the risk of costs and consequences of abuse of process.<ref>[https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/KB/2024/1092.html Stamp & Ors v Capital Home Loans Ltd (t/a CHL Mortgages) & Ors (2024) EWHC 1092 (KB)], 9 May 2024, ''BAILII''</ref>

"You could end up liable to pay tens of thousands of pounds in legal and other costs from your mortgage lender," notes the FCA, "Other people have ended up losing not just their homes but also a large chunk of their equity."<ref name=fca200525 /> "We’ve seen examples of people not only losing their home but also then getting less back from the proceeds of the sale of the home," confirms Sachrajda,<ref name=wood080725 /> with the FCA advice being:<ref name=fca200525 /> {{quotebox|If you're in financial difficulty, struggling to pay your mortgage and at risk of losing your home, beware of people telling you that you're not legally bound by your mortgage contract. Instead, you should speak to your lender.}}

"It’s always worth seeking independent legal advice before acting on information you find online as understanding your legal position fully will help protect you from costly mistakes," concludes a {{wpl|UK Finance}} spokesperson.<ref name=wood080725 />

==Where are they getting this from?==
A number of organisations promoting OPCAs have sprung up across the country which have been identified as primary sources of (dis)information for many in the UK sovereign citizen movement.<ref name=citizens311021 />

===UK Column===
{{cquote|UK Column, a national organisation partly based in Plymouth, have included on their website items claiming [[Blood libel|Jews eat babies]], and [[Biblical]] references stating they are the ancient enemy and discussion on the ([[antisemitic]]) [[Protocols of the Elders of Zion|Protocol of the Elders of Zion]].{{sic}} It crosses the line.|||Georgina Allen, Totnes Councillor<ref name=totnes201023>[https://www.totnes-today.co.uk/news/concern-over-extreme-opinions-650872 Concern over extreme opinions] (November 20, 2023) ''Totnes Times''</ref>}}

'''UK Column''' is a website edited by [[Brian Gerrish]] featuring conspiracy theories and antisemitism<ref name=totnes201023 /> which was launched in 2006 as self-published newspaper the Devonport Column with a readership of around 500 people in the Plymouth area to expose an elaborate scheme to lie to the people that Gerrish believed the local council were engaged in.<ref name=citizens311021 /> Gerrish who is a prominent figure in the British Constitution Group and the Lawful Rebellion movement has subsequently extended its reach.

===Common Law Court===
'''Common Law Court''' is a £50-per-month subscription website run by '''Darral Pinch''' {{lived|May 1968|}}<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/sQJfoC8_kWPpIVu7qDUortqKYGE/appointments Darral PINCH] ''Companies House''</ref> and '''Laraine Pinch''' {{lived|February 1973|}}<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/rO21JAUrRbDcKUB9rGA4kT7wbnk/appointments Laraine Kathryn THOMPSON-PINCH] ''Companies House''</ref> which supplies “identity cards,” other fake legal documents, and even attempted its own [[cryptocurrency]], to help members “reclaim [their] rights.”<ref name=citizens311021 />

Pinch was initially a strong supporter of [[New Zealand]] pseudo-journalist and conspiracy theorist [[Joseph Gregory Hallett]]'s claim to the British throne as King John III,<ref name=dailystar>[https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/qanons-latest-wild-conspiracy-theory-22850036 QAnon's latest wild conspiracy theory claims Queen has no right to the throne] by Michael Moran (October 15, 2020) ''Daily Star''</ref> stamping the series of pseudolegal documents Hallett produced to support his claim with the validation of Common Law Court. Fortunately, Pinch saw the error of his ways just in time to attend the coronation of unemployed security guard Gareth Barrett who proclaimed himself to be King Arthur.<ref name=citizens311021 />

===Alpha Men Assemble===
[[Alpha Men Assemble]] is a far-right [[Militia movement|paramilitary group]] founded to protest COVID-19 vaccines, which describes itself as "free thinking men and women living as sovereign beings under common law".<ref name=vicenews070122 /> It held "[[direct action]]" training sessions across the UK for breaking through police lines, marching in formation and sparring.<ref name=bbcnews180122 />

==I'm out of order! You're out of order! This whole courtroom is out of order!==
{{cquote|You may as well walk into court with a t-shirt saying 'I am an idiot'.|||Carl Gardner, law blogger and lecturer<ref name=bbcnews110716 />}}

The press have reported on a number cases in English and [[Scottish]] courts where OPCAs have been advanced, none of them successfully.<ref name=bbcnews060321 />

===Philip McLoughlin===
{{cquote|I refuse to participate.|||Philip McLoughlin<ref name=standard060522>[https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/20121054.chester-protester-says-will-refuse-participate-obstructing-police-officer-trial/ https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/20121054.chester-protester-says-will-refuse-participate-obstructing-police-officer-trial/] by Mark Dowling (6 May 2022) ''The Standard''</ref>}}

'''Philip Kevin McLoughlin''' appearing in his own defence at Chester Crown Court in February 2022, after assaulting a police officer at an antivax protest in June 2021, claimed he had "not been charged with anything whatsoever," decried police documents as "bogus" and attempted to submit his own bundle of pseudolegal documents. He was finally found in contempt, arrested, and taken to the cells yelling: "That's battery, this is criminal, get off. Get off my paperwork. There is no justice, this is criminal." His trial was set for July.<ref>[https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/19917261.anti-vaccination-protester-jailed-contempt-chester-crown-court/ Anti-vaccination protester jailed for contempt at Chester Crown Court] by Mark Dowling (11 February 2022) ''The Standard''</ref>

Appearing "under extreme duress" at Chester Crown Court again in May 2022, after obstructing a police officer at an antivax protest in January 2022,<ref>Gary Porter, [https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/police-make-arrests-anti-vaxxers-22752919 Police make arrests as anti-vaxxers target Chester court buildings in protest], 14 January 2022, ''Cheshire Live''</ref> he identified himself as "Philip" without his surname, repeated that he was "a living man" and "put the police on notice and the court on notice". His second trial was also set for July and on being told he was "free to leave the court", replied: "Yeah, I could have done that at any time."<ref name=standard060522 />

A hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court on December 19, 2023, at which McLoughlin faced charges of assaulting a woman in October, was disrupted by "freemen" in the public gallery claiming, without merit, to be McLoughlin's legal representation and threatening to arrest the judge and the usher for fraud.<ref>[https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/24001007.police-officers-called-warrington-magistrates-court/ Police officers called to Warrington Magistrates' Court], 21 December 2023, ''Warrington Guardian''</ref> The judge entere a plea of not guilty on his behalf and set a court date for April 2024. Police were eventually called to remove the protestors.

===Steve Higginson===
{{cquote|I am a living man, the blood flows, the flesh moves. I wish for remedy.|||Steve Higginson<ref name=courier280121>[https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/courts/1926532/comical-courtroom-exchange-sees-sheriff-pledge-to-give-fife-man-remedy-he-seeks/ Comical courtroom exchange sees sheriff pledge to give Fife man ‘remedy’ he seeks] by Craig Smith (28 January 2021) ''The Courier''</ref>}}

'''Steve Higginson''' appeared via video link in his own defence at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in January 2021 for driving without insurance and MOT,{{efn|MOT is the Ministry of Transport's vehicular evidence of safety test.}} and hindering officers in the execution of their duty by failing to confirm his identity, address and nationality and provide fingerprints. He also spat and threw clothing at officers, and repeatedly urinated, defecated and spread excrement over his cell walls. Further offenses dated back to 2016 when in a violent struggle at Kirkcaldy’s Justice of the Peace Court he shouted, swore, repeatedly struck a door, attempted to hit police officers with a receptacle of unidentified liquid and failed to reappear at court on another date. Requesting to be called "Steve" which the sheriff politely refused, Higginson responded, "no comment" to his plea, claimed, "They were fake police officers," and, "They were not constables. They were enforcing civil law by force," before repeating his mantra, "I am a living man, the blood flows, the flesh moves. I wish for remedy."<ref name=courier280121/> At trial in February he trotted out the usual OPCA [[jargon]] about not needing insurance and MOT as he was “not acting in commerce”, and not being “compelled” to enter the Justice of the Peace Court, before submitting a multiple page document drawing from the Magna Carta, and Australian and Canadian law among other sources, which Sheriff Alastair Brown dismissed, stating: {{Quotebox|Whoever drafted this does not have the slightest understanding of this or any other system of law.}} Higginson also accused police officers of being “thugs” and acting as a “terrorist organisation”. He was subsequently found guilty.<ref name=courier040221>[https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/courts/1948135/fifer-convicted-of-driving-offences-despite-citing-magna-carta-in-defence/ Magna Carta defence fails for Fife man convicted of driving offences] by Craig Smith (4 February 2021) ''The Courier''</ref>

===Paul Brittain===
{{cquote|I have got a couple of photos and a head full of common sense.|||Paul Brittain<ref name=teessidelive040320>[https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/ingleby-man-says-hes-head-17853159 Ingleby man says he's got a 'head full of common sense' to solve balcony planning wrangle] by Samuel Jones (4 March 2020) ''Teesside Live''</ref>}}

'''Paul Brittain''' was taken to Teesside Magistrates' Court in March 2020 by {{wpl|Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council|Stockton Council}} for breach of planning regulations over the unauthorised installation of a {{wpl|Balconet|Juliet balcony}} and {{wpl|French doors}} on his detached home, Paul Brittain immediately set alarm bells ringing by giving his name as "Paul of the family Brittain" and claiming "I live inside here" while pointing to his chest,<ref name=teessidelive040320 /> later clarifying "I live inside this body. Wherever this body goes is where I live." Explaining why he was unable to replace the unauthorised modifications, he claimed, "I can't afford to put the window in, my family are in dire straights{{sic}} and I have gone into survival mode." He then launched into full "a man on the land" mode stating, "I want to know where you get your authority from because I didn't consent to it," and "The police, the courts and the councils are private limited companies and I want to know how you trade with each other."<ref name=teessidelive311020>[https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/its-not-like-ive-built-19175127 'It's not like I've built a skyscraper': Ingleby man's planning wrangle with council rumbles on] by Samuel Jones (31 October 2020) ''Teesside Live''</ref> Demanding the council "cease and desist," he asked, "Have you even got a local authority or have you just got the illusion of one?" Finally claiming, 
"I have been down the council for some help, you don't get it, there's a thing called {{wpl|United Kingdom government austerity programme|austerity}} and {{wpl|bedroom tax||.}} It's almost like there's a [[Depopulation conspiracy theory|depopulation programme]]." The court ruled the modifications must be removed and sentenced him to pay a court bill of £940.<ref name=teessidelive240121>[https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/ingleby-man-land-who-didnt-19657289 Ingleby 'man on the land' who didn't consent to council's authority hit with court bill] by Samuel Jones (24 January 2021) ''Teesside Live''</ref>

===Oliver Pinnock===
{{cquote|All I was trying to do was protect our rights and let people know we have to use them or lose them.|||Oliver Pinnock<ref name=essexecho100517>[https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/15274257.boxer-who-was-jailed-for-not-paying-council-tax-stands-by-his-decision/ Boxer who was jailed for not paying council tax stands by his decision] by Katie Feehan (10 May 2017) ''Essex Echo''</ref>}}

'''Oliver "The Ringmaster" Pinnock''' {{lived|March 1981|}}<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/to6rujZt95B6pnFq6hBevUOO1RU/appointments Ollie PINNOCK] ''Companies House''</ref> is professional welterweight boxer and member (possibly the only one) of the group "Lawful Rebellion&nbsp;– Practical Lawful Dissent", who, after perhaps one to many hits to the head, tried to use Article 61 of the Magna Carta to exempt himself from paying his £875.44 council tax bill.<ref name=essexecho050517>[https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/15267384.pro-leigh-boxer-ollie-pinnock-sentenced-to-25-days-in-jail-for-not-paying-council-tax/ Pro Leigh boxer Ollie Pinnock sentenced to 25 days in jail for not paying council tax] by Katie Feehan (5 May 2017) ''Essex Echo''</ref> He later claimed this was done to "distress the tyrannical system," and stated:
{{Quotebox|I did a lot of research into the constitution and how our land is being taken over by corporations. In 2001, a group of peers invoked Article 61 of the Magna Carta, demanding the rights of the British people had to be defended.<ref name=essexecho100517 />}}

"We knew that council tax is the hardest way to do this but I wanted to take up the biggest challenge because I’m a fighter," he claimed, and he was right.<ref name=essexecho100517 /> After failing to attend court in May 2017, Pinnock was arrested, sentenced to 25 days in jail, and released when he paid the money owed.<ref name=essexecho050517 /> "I wouldn’t have paid if it wasn’t for my family but I can’t just think about myself," he heroically conceded.<ref name=essexecho100517 />

===Mark McKenzie===
'''Mark McKenzie''' is a self-employed music teacher who attempted to dodge £7,000 for seven-years of unpaid council tax by declaring himself a "Freeman-on-the-Land" and "independent of government jurisdiction". In July 2015, Manchester Magistrates’ sentenced him to one night in custody for contempt of court after trying to record proceedings and ordered him to pay his debt. After failing to respond to a summons the following November for continued non-payments, an arrest was issued.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-39885397 Tax dodger's freeman on the land defence fails] (11 May 2017) ''BBC News''</ref> Surrendering to authorities in May 2017, he was sentenced to 40 days in prison and ordered to repay his debt.<ref>[https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/man-tried-use-ancient-legal-13018642 This man tried to use an ancient legal loophole to avoid pl tax... but did it work?] by Paying counciete Bainbridge (11 May 2017) ''Manchester Evening News''</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

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

[[Category:Antisemites]]
[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:COVID-19 denialists]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:War on science]]

Categories: Antisemites, Anti-vaccination movement, Conspiracy theorists, COVID-19 denialists, United Kingdom, War on science