West Yorkshire salon closed now says council after £3,000 fines for 'Magna Carta' hairdresser

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

Kirklees Council have now said that the Oakenshaw premises was closed on inspection today after two fines for two witnessed trading days were issued.

The fines to the hair salon owner now total £3,000 as the first Fixed Penalty Notice was £1,000 which then doubled to £2,000 on the second offence.

Hairdressers are amongst the non-essential businesses which must be closed during the national lockdown.

A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said: “To summarise so far, two fines, for two days trading witnessed. The first was £1,000 and the second was £2,000, totalling £3,000.

“The premises was closed today (Thursday) on inspection but we’ll check again tomorrow (Friday, November 13).”

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.

The Yorkshire Evening Post made a number of attempts to contact the salon via phone, Facebook and Instagram.