Amelia Cutting
Plans for double vaccination to be an entry requirement at clubs and other crowded venues is going ahead in England, Downing Street has announced.
Nicola Sturgeon has also said, that Scots will require vaccine passports to go to nightclubs, music concerts, festivals and other events with more than 500 people.
The proposed changes in Scotland will be put to a vote at Holyrood next week, coming into force at the end of this month if approved. Sturgeon said:
“The Scottish Government has made it clear that we do not believe that vaccination certification should ever be a requirement for any key services or in settings where people have no choice over attendance… but we do consider that a limited use of vaccine certification could help to control the spread of the virus, as we head into the autumn and winter.”
In England, the existing NHS app will be used to show proof of double vaccination and the requirement will also be in effect from the end of September.
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said, “We set out broadly our intention to require vaccination for nightclubs and some other settings. We will be coming forward in the coming weeks with detail for that.”
Initial Announcement of this Plan
The idea to make double vaccination a nightclub entry requirement was initially announced in July, being met with immediate backlash.
Johnson had previously said, “We are planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather. Proof of a negative test will no longer be sufficient.”
Ministers had hoped by making vaccinations a requirement for events and activities, vaccine-skeptics would be enticed to get jabbed. This plan raised serious questions over civil liberties, especially among Tory backbenchers. They warned in July that Johnson faced an “embarrassing defeat” if he went ahead and put the “authoritarian” proposal to a vote in the Commons.
Many people also share this view, with serious questions over freedom of choice being raised.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, John Swinney said last month vaccine passports were ‘the wrong way’ to go. Making this a big U-turn from the Government.
Backlash
In England, Labour have expressed their concerns over the decision to move forward with this plan. They have suggested a system including Covid testing alongside vaccination would be better. Especially given, that double jabbed people can still catch and transmit the virus.
If Labour decline to support the passport plan, the government could face defeat in the House of Commons.
The nightclub industry has also expressed its concerns, Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said:
“We have consistently opposed the mandatory implementation of Covid passports. Businesses need to be able to decide for themselves what is best for them and, for many of our members, the passports will wipe out revenues so heavily reliant on spontaneity.
“Scottish opposition was found in the Greens”
“The government has been all over the place when it comes to the issue of Covid passports – at first certification wasn’t mandatory, and this position was completely reversed within a week.”
Scottish opposition was found in the Greens, the SNP’s power-sharing partner, who voiced concerns about discrimination against the disabled, ill or poor.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross, also said:
“after wasting months that could have been spent making proper preparations, the SNP Government is now introducing vaccine passports at the last minute.”
“We need businesses to get in-depth guidance around these certificates as soon as possible. They should be involved in the process and the government needs to clarify whether they will be expected to police these new rules.”
Featured image courtesy of Lukas via Unsplash. Image licence can be found here. No changes have been made to this image.
Amelia Cutting
I'm Amelia- a graduate from the University of Leeds and current NCTJ Level 5 Diploma student!