Simon Dolan

Dolan was Executive Producer[11] of the 2019 film Renegade, featuring anti-semitic[12] conspiracy theorist David Icke and co-produced by David Icke's son Jaymie Icke. The Times of Israel stated, 'The former footballer and TV presenter’s documentary, ‘Renegade – The Life Story of David Icke‘, reflects on his work and campaigns. This has included championing anti-Jewish propaganda and attempting to legitimise the infamous Tzarist forgery, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which claims “Zionists” control the world. In one of his books, Icke said Jews “created the circumstances which made the Second World War inevitable” and “financed Hitler to power in 1933 and made the funds available for his rearmament”.'[13]

Dolan has referred to the novel coronavirus as a 'cold bug'.[14] On 1 February 2021, Dolan stated, 'I see Captain Sir Tom Moore is in hospital with supposed Covid. He most certainly NOT in hospital because he is over 100 years old, has been suffering from pneumonia for a few weeks and had a mRNA 'vaccine'. If this poor man is snatched from us prematurely in the prime of his life, the nation will mourn.'[15] Captain Sir Tom Moore died on 2 February 2021 after testing positive for COVID-19.[16]

Dolan believes that the British government has ulterior motives for the COVID-19 lockdowns. He sees it as a way for those in power to "test how malleable a society is" in order to limit citizens' freedom, or as a way to introduce mandatory vaccinations. Dolan also referenced climate change, which he says the government has "been banging on about". He said: "What has happened will undoubtedly help [climate change campaigns], because the world has become cleaner as industries have shut down." According to Dolan, people who receive “a cheque for nothing” are the ones supporting the lockdown.[17]

On 1 May 2020, Dolan started proceedings to challenge the UK Government's lockdown decision, suggesting the Government had acted illegally and disproportionately over the COVID-19 lockdown.[18] He began a crowdfunding campaign to fund the proposed action, writing on the crowdfunding page: "By forcing people to stay at home, and forcing businesses to close, they are, we believe, in contravention of basic Human Rights offered under English Law, that of the right to enjoy your property peacefully."[19] As of 10 June it had raised over £210,000 with almost 7,000 people contributing.[20] The proceedings were opposed by The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB). The IWGB stated on 4 June 2020, ' The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is applying to intervene in a High Court legal challenge brought by multi-millionaire Simon Dolan. Dolan, a conspiracy theorist and businessman based in Monaco, is attempting to force the government to prematurely end the lockdown, a move that would disproportionately impact low-paid and BAME workers.'[21]

On 6 July 2020, Dolan was refused permission for judicial review by the Honourable Mr Justice Lewis, who said, 'The context in which the restrictions were imposed, however, was of a global pandemic where a novel, highly infectious disease capable of causing death was spreading and was transmissible between humans. There was no known cure and no vaccine. There was a legal duty to review the restrictions periodically and to end the restrictions if they were no longer necessary to achieve the aim of reducing the spread and the incidence of coronavirus. The regulations would end after six months in any event. In those, possibly unique, circumstances, there is no realistic prospect that a court would find that regulations adopted to reduce the opportunity for transmission by limiting contact between individuals was disproportionate.'[22] On 9 July, Dolan launched an appeal against the decision.[23][19]

Dolan's appeal against the initial decision was successful and on 5 August the Court of Appeal ruled that the challenge against the UK Government lockdown would continue to be heard with Lord Justice Hickinbottom who stated that he was persuaded that the grounds should be considered by the full court in open court, and the claimants "given an opportunity to make good their case, at least on arguability". The Judicial Review will now proceed to a rolled-up hearing expected to be held at the Court of Appeal during the week commencing on 28 September.[24]

On 14 September 2020, Dolan's judicial review legally challenged the then new UK rule of a limit of six people per group otherwise known as the rule of six.[25]

Dolan joined forces with wedding venue operator Cripps Barn Group Ltd to challenge the Government's latest lockdown. On 15 October there was an Interim Injunction Hearing that was denied by the Judge. Following this hearing, the Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle intervened in the case because it raises issues of ‘constitutional importance’[26]

On 1 December, it was ruled that the Government should not face a Judicial Review regarding the initial lockdown measures. The court warned against treating judicial reviews as evolving or “rolling” proceedings, and parties filing “excessively long” pleadings. The court criticised Dolan and the other Appellants for taking two months to start their claim, rather than very promptly following the making of the Regulations in March 2020.[27]

Dolan has claimed that requiring people to wear masks is a step toward authoritarianism, tweeting, 'Unless you make a stand, you will be wearing a mask for the rest of your life.'[28][29] Jota Aviation (of which Dolan is Director, Company Secretary[30] and a person with significant control[31]) has been delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS.[32] It is a requirement for passengers to wear face masks on board Jota Aviation aircraft.[33]

In 2020, Dolan established activist group Keep Britain Free.[34] On 20 July 2020, Keep Britain Free organised a demonstration in London at which 'Some protesters waved placards referring to masks as "mind control" devices, while others were pictured promoting baseless conspiracy theories including the flat earth theory and a supposed link between 5G and Covid-19. Several demonstrators wore masks to illustrate their opposition to face masks.'[35]

On 29 October 2020, Dolan was suspended from Twitter after he expressed concern about plans for Chinese involvement in the HS2 project and the building of 5G infrastructure. Twitter later reinstated the account saying it had been suspended in error.[36] Dolan has claimed on Twitter, 'The US elections were rigged / There is no climate 'emergency' / The West should not have been shut down for COVID / I do believe all three are related though'. [37] As of January 2021, Dolan has moved his social media presence from Twitter to Gab, a digital safe space for the far right.[38]

Dolan has opposed the UK government's adoption of the Pfizer vaccine.[39] Dolan has called UK Matt Hancock, UK Secreateary of State for Health "Mengele" after the Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele who conducted medical experiments on people in Nazi death camps.[40] Dolan has spread COVID-19 vaccine disinformation[41] based on publication by the far-right newspaper The Epoch Times, which has been identified as targeting COVID-19 misinformation at the UK.[42] On 31 January 2021, Dolan tweeted, 'It’s not a vaccine / It doesn’t stop transmission / It’s not properly tested / It damages and can kill / You don’t need it'[43]

In January 2021, Dolan was a cosignatory[44] of an open letter to the FBI and MI5 titled 'The Chinese Communist Party’s Global Lockdown Fraud', alleging pro-China bias by international scientists and oficials.[45]

Dolan has expressed support for 2020 US election conspiracy theories regarding Dominion Voting Systems. Dolan has claimed 'The Company that owns Dominion Voting Systems received $400m from a Chinese State owned bank, based in Switzerland, in Oct 2020. There are financial connections between Biden and the Chinese State. These are facts.';[46] this claim is based on an article by The Jewish Voice, which has promoted COVID-19 conspiracy theories.[47] In December 2020, Dolan expressed support for Neo-Confederate positions, and specifically the establishment of a Confederate States of America in 2021.[48]

Dolan was the focus of a 2014 British promotional film, directed by Dolan's business partner[60] Charlotte Fantelli, that followed Jota Sport on their quest to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP2 category in 2014. The film followed Dolan and his Jota Sport teammates and captured the highs and lows the team encountered on their way to victory. Dolan is the owner and sole Director of Fantelli Productions.[61] [62]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)