COVID-19 protests in the United Kingdom

COVID-19 anti-lockdown protests
in the United Kingdom
COVID-19 anti-lockdown protests; in the United Kingdom
Part of protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
	Anti-lockdown protest march in London, April 2021
Date	20 April 2020 – 18 March 2022; (1 year, 10 months, 3 weeks and 5 days)
Location	United Kingdom, particularly London
Caused by	Opposition to the British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic; Opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions; Opposition to vaccination and immunity passports;
Goals	Ending COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom; Pay rises and improved working conditions for healthcare workers;
Methods	Peaceful protesting; Defying social distancing;
Status	End of protest; Most of the COVID measures lifted on 18 March 2022;
Casualties
Injuries	12+[citation needed]
Arrested	400+[citation needed]

Locations that have had reported anti-lockdown protests

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, numerous protests took place over the government's response.

Anti-lockdown protests took place in opposition to restrictions, starting in April 2020 against the first national lockdown, and continuing during subsequent lockdowns and other regional restriction systems. These overlapped with anti-vaccination protests, which continued after the start of the UK's vaccination programme in December 2020. Several media outlets blamed online COVID-19 misinformation, denialism and conspiracy theories as driving factors in the protest movement.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] The Economist described the protests as "countercultural" and attracting people from a variety of demographics and political leanings.^[7] Hundreds of protesters have been arrested for violating lockdown restrictions, social distancing measures and other public health laws.^[8]

Unrelated protests were held by or in support of National Health Service staff involved in the frontline health response to demand for pay rises and improved working conditions.

^ "[Withdrawn] All COVID-19 travel restrictions removed in the UK". 3 January 2023.
^ "How COVID-conspiracists and anti-vaxxers are getting organised and making money". Sky News. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
^ "Among the Covid sceptics: 'We are being manipulated, without a shadow of a doubt'". The Guardian. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
^ "Inside the bizarre rise of coronavirus conspiracy theories". The Independent. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
^ "How Covid-19 myths are merging with the QAnon conspiracy theory". BBC News. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
^ Brewis, April Roach, Harriet (30 August 2020). "Thousands promote Covid conspiracy theories at anti-lockdown protest". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] "[Withdrawn] All COVID-19 travel restrictions removed in the UK". 3 January 2023.

[2] "How COVID-conspiracists and anti-vaxxers are getting organised and making money". Sky News. Retrieved 24 June 2021.

[3] "Among the Covid sceptics: 'We are being manipulated, without a shadow of a doubt'". The Guardian. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.

[4] "Inside the bizarre rise of coronavirus conspiracy theories". The Independent. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.

[5] "How Covid-19 myths are merging with the QAnon conspiracy theory". BBC News. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.

[6] Brewis, April Roach, Harriet (30 August 2020). "Thousands promote Covid conspiracy theories at anti-lockdown protest". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[:1-7] Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:0-8] Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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