Mayor facing court for refusing to do census
STROUD mayor John Marjoram faces a £1,000 fine and criminal record for refusing to complete his census form.
He refused to take part in the national survey last year in protest at the fact that US weapons maker Lockheed Martin was administering it.
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He is due to appear before Bristol magistrates on February 6 and says he will plead not guilty on ethical grounds.
Coun Marjoram, right, has been a peace protester for 50 years after seeing the trauma suffered by his uncle in the First World War.
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"I couldn't live with myself if I had collaborated with a military company on this matter," he said.
Veteran peace campaigner Roger Franklin from Horsley also refused to complete his census. His case is before Bristol magistrates today.
Mr Franklin, 84, pictured below, will not attend the hearing and will not enter a plea. He has written to the court outlining his moral and legal objections to Lockheed Martin's involvement and his declaration of political independence six years ago when he renamed his 17-acre home Tickmorend Free Space in protest at the UK's nuclear weapons.
Mr Franklin says he is not prepared to pay any fine.
Eight Nailsworth Quakers also refused to complete the census in protest and may face criminal proceedings.
The Office of National Statistics said two million census forms had not been completed across England and Wales. So far, 92 people have been found guilty of failing to return it and 14 cases are ongoing. A defendant has until the start of their hearing to fill in the form.
Comments
by steve4319
Thursday, January 12 2012, 9:48PM
“I am so proud of John. Whatever you think of him, or even this specific issue, I am proud to have a Mayor who stands up for what he believes. In an age where politicians have so little trust, you at least know exactly where you are with John. He is a hard working guy who cares about Stroud but also cares about the wider world. He might not be perfect, he might even be slightly crazy, but I have no doubt he is a great guy and a fantastic local Mayor!
If anyone is interested, I was left undecided about whether to fill in the census - I had read two opposing arguments that are summarised here http://tinyurl.com/7oa83rl”
by intheForest
Thursday, January 12 2012, 10:54AM
“I must admit I don't see the point of the census as all the information is held on other Gov. data bases anyway !!”
by Lecorche
Thursday, January 12 2012, 10:44AM
“Income Tax was invented in the late !8th. Century. Solely in the name of War against Napoleon.
This has been extrapolated into a Industry and is used and abused by nearly every country in the world.
Councillor Marjoram has a mountain to climb.
I wish him well.”
by chinabluedish
Thursday, January 12 2012, 10:22AM
“I commend the gentlemen for his noble actions. If only more of us realised our rights under said (top down) "law". Consensus decision making?? @ Desenchanter: Yes, you may refuse to pay parts of your tax if you so wish; when the Iraq war broke out, a small number of people formed a group called the 'peace tax seven', refused to pay their taxes, arguing for a tax that payed towards public services, not towards war and weapons manufacturing. They are still (inevitably) going through court proceedings. If only the 'peace tax' had been enforced, perhaps we might not be in such a ridiculous and unjust predicament we are currently in whereby local and much needed services are being slashed on an unprecedented scale. By refusing to fill in his census form, John Marjoram also brings to light a discourse much in need of debate. Good luck John!”
by Desenchanter
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 12:00PM
“Does this mean I can refuse to pay 1/3rd of my council tax (or £400 pa) on ethical grounds, as that is the proportion being used to top up the employer contributions for all the council workers ?
If I can't afford decent provision foe my own retirement due to the tax burden, why should I have to pay for theirs ?”
by thomas1996
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 11:40AM
“What an idiot, it takes a few minutes. Lockheed Martin equipment is used widely in Royal Mail sorting offices - does this mean Mr. Marjoram no longer wants the postman to walk up to his front door? what a berk.”
by 2ladybugs
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 11:32AM
“2 milliom? Cor... that's going to keep the courts busy for a while.”
by Matt1006
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 11:20AM
“All well & good having ethics Mr. Marjoram, but that doesn't excuse you from completing the form (as required by law), and therefore having committed a criminal offence by not filling it in. Ditto all others who haven't filled it in, whether it be for ethical, moral or legal reasons, or just because they couldn't be bothered.
Stick to your ethics, but accept that it's going to cost you £1,000 and land you with a criminal record.”
by Andrew_Powell
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 10:30AM
“two million census forms had not been completed across England and Wales. ?"
No, they 'lost' more forms than that !”