The group of seven, including Sheffield Quaker Simon Heywood (36), are all conscientious objectors. Although they are willing in principle to pay their tax bills in full, they refuse absolutely to pay tax to the armed forces, on the grounds that paying someone else to kill is itself killing. They have faced prosecution. They argue that conscientious objection to military taxation is a human right, just as conscientious objection to military conscription in previous wars, guaranteed under article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a two-hour hearing on Monday 25th July, judge Collins upheld a previous decision by judge Wilson not to allow the group a full hearing in British courts. He conceded that the group have a strong case in law - before batting it back to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The group had brought the case under the 1998 Human Rights Act, which allows British courts to hear cases under European law. They intend to appeal, and, if necessary, go to Strasbourg.