All right minded reasonable people want equality of opportunity for all, irrespective of race, religion, ability, disability, gender, sexual identity, skin colour, nationality etcetera. This is absolutely not a comment on the rights or wrongs of many worthwhile causes in our society.

In the UK we are enduring the worst public health crisis for more than a generation. Tens of thousands of people have already lost their lives, and many thousands more could still succumb to this dreadful virus. For each of those who have died there is a family wracked with grief, whose lives have been shattered. There are friends who are mourning so many who are gone before their time.

Millions of people throughout this nation have been abiding by the regulations set out by the Government, staying at home, maintaining social distance, and not placing themselves and others at risk.

However we have been seeing many thousands of people completely disregarding the social distancing rules by demonstrating in huge crowds. Many of us have been shocked and saddened to see so many people with such disregard for human life.

We ask that the Government issue a blanket ban on all mass demonstrations for the duration of this public health emergency. A second wave of infections is inevitable as long as protesters blantantly ignore the advice and regulations. There are other ways that people can protest and other ways to make their collective voices heard. This doesn’t have to be at the expense of public health and at the risk of endangering the lives of thousands more people. These are unprecedented times and whilst we can absolutely share the desire for change that many demonstrations are asking for, the fact is, we cannot carry on as normal. This virus is a killer and everyone of us has a right to be safe, and a duty to not place others at risk.

The Government is asked to act without delay before the rate of infections becomes too hard to control.