Green activists staged a ‘mock trial’ of local MP Sir Geoffrey Cox KC on Saturday (October 17) in Tavistock’s Duke Street.

The ‘mock trial’ called for Sir Geoffrey to stop helping a fossil fuel company sue the British government for pulling out of a major coal mining project in Cumbria.

Back in 2024, the High Court ruled that plans for a new coal mine by West Cumbria Mining Ltd would not be allowed to go ahead, pointing out the devastating climate damage it would cause – and the plan was withdrawn.

Sir Geoffrey, in his second job capacity as barrister, is representing this fossil fuel company, which with Singaporean parent company, Woodhouse Investment, stand to make up to £300 million if he wins their case, against the UK government, for pulling their permission for a coal mine to be developed.

Campaigners suggest MP Sir Geoffrey may be “putting profit before people”, they also highlight this summer’s sweltering temperatures and the “worst drought in 50 years”.

Cathy Slaughter, spokeswoman for the group said: “Any suggestion that the UK might continue adding to the global emissions of greenhouse gases is very questionable, but this is exactly what Torridge and West Devon MP Sir Geoffrey Cox seems to be doing.”

The campaigners added that the case will take place through a “secretive” legal process: the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).

Money for the legal process will “come out of the public purse”, campaigners said, and “it will also be going to a fossil fuel company”.

In 2025 the Global Carbon Budget showed that around 90 per cent of global CO2 emissions, the dominant cause of global climate chaos, came from fossil fuels and industry.

The ‘mock trial’ comes as part of the ISDS Days of Action, a global movement that calls for a total phaseout of Investor-State Dispute Settlements (trade and investment deals).

The MP has been approached for comment.