Clap for Carers suffers a subdued return after founder sits out following online abuse

The founder of Clap for Carers has announced that she is distancing herself from the new campaign after receiving abuse from “a hateful few”.

Annemarie Plas, who initiated with the weekly ritual that ran for ten weeks during the first lockdown, had tweeted that the tradition would return on Thursday evening, this time named Clap for Heroes.

However in a statement released on Thursday afternoon, she announced that she had “no choice” but to distance herself after being targeted by online trolls on social media.

“Irrespective of their views and reasons for believing this is an acceptable way to behave, I did not set out to make a political statement and will not put my loved ones at risk," she added.

“I have no political agenda, I am not employed by the government, I do not work in PR, I am just an average mum at home trying to cope with the lockdown situation. As a consequence I have opted to distance myself from tonight’s planned applause and will no longer seek to raise further awareness of it.”

She went on to add that the behaviour of those wishing to “vilify” her and “destroy the goodwill and positive intentions of the national applause” was “destructive and counter intuitive.”

Plas came up with the original Clap for Carers as a “spontaneous idea” and a way to show support for frontline workers battling coronavirus - though clapping for health workers first began in Italy and Spain.

However, it quickly became a national tradition during the first lockdown, with millions across the UK taking to their doorsteps every Thursday at 8pm to applaud, cheer and bang pots in support.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and members of the royal family also joined in with the weekly event, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis photographed clapping at the doorstop to their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.

But the event later faced criticism for becoming politicised, with some suggesting the NHS would benefit more from extra funding than applause, and was eventually ended by Plas in May.

At the time she suggested it should instead become an annual event, and that the public had “shown our appreciation” and it was now up to ministers to “reward” key workers.

Though the newly renamed Clap for Heroes went ahead on Thursday evening, it was much more subdued than the earlier campaign.

Many took to Twitter to say “it was a waste of time” or that “the moment has passed”, while medics posted messages asking people “please don’t clap us. Just wear a mask, wash your hands and respect lockdown”. 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he participated, but insisted clapping "isn't enough".

"[Health care workers] need to be paid properly and given the respect they deserve," he tweeted.

Plas added that if people want to clap they "absolutely should".

“If you choose and want to clap for your heroes on an individual and personal basis – it’s up to each person to decide how relevant or worthwhile they feel it is to participate,” she said.