DEMONSTRATORS braved the rain in Oxford city centre to make their voices heard about lockdown measures.

About 50 people attended the ‘Oxford Rally for Freedom’ in Bonn Square yesterday afternoon, with speakers including Jeremy Corbyn’s brother, Piers.

The protestors voiced their grievances about lockdown and the impact upon businesses, wearing face masks and vaccinations.

Debbie Nugus, who organised the event, said lockdown measures are having an impact on local businesses.

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“We want people to come together in unity and also to start to question the situation,” she said.

“We have a situation where the mortality rate is very low despite the recent increase in cases.

“The situation is not one where we should be locking the country down, it’s very damaging to the local economy and it’s devastating to see the local economy and businesses closing.

“We’ve all come together as we feel strongly about this and we’re here fighting for freedom of speech and freedom of democracy, we’re not happy with what the Government is doing.”

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One man, who only wished to be identified as Andrew, was giving out leaflets to passersby.

A freelance singer, he said he hasn’t been able to work since March because of lockdown.

“Bars and restaurants look like they’re struggling again, the industry I work in is being decimated,” he said.

“The motivation behind everyone here is to stop all these ridiculous rules and regulations.

“People are beginning to wake up in different areas of the country.

“I would like to see here what’s happening in Sweden where things are more open.”

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Sharon Lawrence, a retired dentist, said: “We’re already moving towards herd immunity and lockdown made no difference.

“There’s been an awful lot of deaths from people being denied medical treatment and people committing suicide too.”

Shoppers at the Westgate sheltered from the rain and watched the demonstration from a distance.

One passerby, who was visiting Oxford for the first time, said: “It’s crazy that people are anti-science and anti-learning in a city that is the centre of learning.

“Social distancing seems to have worked and if everyone wore a mask, it shows the transmission rate is very low.

“Everyone should just wear a mask and wash their hands, health should come first.”

One shopper, an Oxford resident, added: “They obviously feel very strongly about it but we need to do what needs to be done. Wearing a mask is odd but it’s got to be done.”