Silent ‘Doctors not martyrs’ protest outside No10 during Clap for Carers

A group of doctors in scrubs and masks held a ‘Doctors not martyrs’ banner outside Downing Street in a show of support for the over 200 NHS staff who have died from coronavirus

The group of Doctors in surgical scrubs and masks silently knelt outside a gated-off Downing Street while displaying a banner which said: “Doctors not martyrs.”

Journalist Ben Smoke posted images of the silent demonstration on his Twitter page, including one “striking moment” as the doctors stared down the armed police on the other side of the gate.

“They laid a wreath and then left,” the HUCK magazine contributing editor said.

as 8pm clap happened across the country, these doctors silently took a knee outside downing street and displayed a sign stating “doctors not martyrs”. it’s reported that over 200 nhs staff have died from coronavirus so far. pic.twitter.com/TppKSiNo5H

— Ben Smoke (@bencsmoke) May 28, 2020

The founder of the Clap for Carers weekly applause, Annemarie Plas, has said yesterday’s clap should be the last.

For 10 weeks running people across the UK have lined their thresholds, gathered – while socially distancing – on pavements, and stood in their gardens to demonstrate their support.

In recent weeks, the ritual has been criticised by some for becoming ‘politicised’, while others, including NHS staff, have pointed out the hypocrisy at play.

Some people who take part in the clap then wilfully ignore the plea to stay at home and avoid gatherings in an effort to ease the strain on the healthcare system.

It comes as Boris Johnson’s chief aide Mr Cummings is accused of breaking lockdown rules by travelling from London to County Durham, including taking his wife and four-year-son to Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday, despite claiming to be displaying Covid-19 symptoms.