No clarity for pubs on vaccine entry requirements
The Prime Minister's spokesperson was asked by lobby journalists yesterday (20 July) if the Government would rule out the introduction of vaccine checks in bustling pubs.
Boris Johnson's spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister talked about the sort of areas we were considering, and nightclubs are where there is significant evidence we have at the moment.
"But we're going to use the coming weeks to look at the evidence, particularly both in the UK and globally before making a specific decision."
The spokesperson was also asked if plans to require two jabs as a condition of entry to clubs would be scrapped if vaccine uptake among young people increased.
"This is the policy that the Prime Minister has set out and this is what we will be introducing by the end of September," they said.
Careful definitions
Downing Street did not rule out the introduction of vaccine requirements in busy pubs when questioned by The Morning Advertiser and reiterated the Prime Minister’s spokesperson’s comments.
Small business minister Paul Scully told Sky News that ministers were "not saying crowded pubs at all" but then added nothing was being ruled out.
When asked about pubs that were just as busy as nightclubs, Scully said the Government needed to "work on the definition" of "crowded venues" included in the rules.
He said: "We've got to define it really carefully and we'll do that in the coming months until we get there."
Concerning messaging
Night time economy advisor for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord, said the Government’s rhetoric was “extremely concerning” for the whole industry including live music venues and large bars.
Let's not let the Gov't hide behind the narrative of "nightclubs."
— Sacha Lord (@Sacha_Lord) July 19, 2021
"Venues where large crowds gather" is too open ended.
Live music venues
Theatres
Large bars
Arenas
The list is endless.
Bosses said plans for nightclubs were “shambolic” and “chaotic” and would hit nightclubs hard after 16 months of closure.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said: “Leaving aside the fact that this is yet another chaotic U-turn that will leave night clubs who have been planning for reopening for months will now have to make more changes to the way they operate – this is still a bad idea.
"80% of nightclubs have said they do not want to implement Covid passports, worrying about difficulties with enforcing the system and a reduction in spontaneous consumers, as well as being put at a competitive disadvantage with pubs and bars that aren’t subject to the same restrictions and yet provide similar environments.”
