Quinn Blakey hair salon open again during lockdown totalling in £17,000 fines for ‘Magna Carta’ West Yorkshire hairdresser

Quinn Blakey Hairdressing, in Bradford, made the decision to open during lockdown and refused to close when asked by the police.

The owner has now been fined a further £10,000 on Monday by Kirklees Council for staying open after having been fined £4,000 on November 21.

The latest fines come after a £1,000 fine was issued on November 9 and a £2,000 fine on November 12.

The hair salon owner now faces a total of £17,000 in fines after defying the rule that non-essential businesses, including hair salons, must close during the second national lockdown.

The hairdresser had a sign on her door which referenced Article 61 of Magna Carta 1215 which stated it has a “right to enter into lawful dissent if we feel we are being governed unjustly.”

The original version of Magna Carta granted powers to barons in order to keep the provisions of the Magna Carta, but these powers were not granted to the wider population. Within a year of being written, this clause was removed from subsequent versions of Magna Carta. It was never incorporated into English statutory law and so cannot be used as a Common Law defence.

A post on the salon’s Facebook page on November 9 explained that the salon was staying open to ensure the salon’s rent was paid along with the owner’s personal mortgage, bills, childcare fees, food, car and insurance.

The now deleted post read: “I earned this week’s rent today, not sure where I would be pulling that money from given the government want self employed business people to wait SIX WEEKS for a payment.

"I still have a mortgage, bills, childcare fees, food, car, insurance etc not to mention the overheads for the shop.

"If we give up now I can categorically guarantee your small businesses will not survive this lockdown - given it’s not going to be four weeks.

“Like I said before this is more than just having a business and an income, this is my children’s future and that’s more important to me than anything. Thank you to the clients who are supporting me in this difficult time!”

The owner of the salon has continued to post videos on Instagram of the police and council outside the door.

The letter on the door referring to the 1215 document said: “Under Article 61 of Magna Carta 1215 we have a right to enter into lawful dissent if we feel we are being governed unjustly.

“Contrary to common belief, our sovereign and her government are only there to govern us and not rule us.

“This must be done within the constraint of our common law and the freedoms asserted to us by such law. Nothing can become law in this country if it falls outside of this simple constraint.

“I am not under any obligation, nor will I, answer any questions or give you any details. I am a living persons and statutory regulations only apply with my consent.”

The letter continued to demand proof for eight different clauses before Quinn Blakey Hairdressing salon said they would agree to close.

A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said: “We visited on Saturday and found the business to be open.

“They have been given a £4,000 fine for trading that day.

“Police visited the premises yesterday and the business was found to again be open and trading.

“They are now being issued with a further £10,000 fine.

“This takes the total to £17,000.”

The owner of Quinn Blakey Hairdressing declined to comment.