Boris Johnson faces backlash over ‘shambolic’ Covid certificate plans for nightclubs

Boris Johnson’s plan for people to need Covid certificates to enter nightclubs and other ‘crowded venues’ from September has been condemned as ‘shambolic.’

In his Covid briefing yesterday afternoon, it was announced that Covid certificates – received upon getting both vaccination jabs – will be made compulsory for crowded venues such as nightclubs in a bid to boost vaccine uptake among young people.

The vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the new rule, described as a ‘sensible and pragmatic approach,’ will come into place at the end of September.

Ministers hope the move will help to encourage younger people to have the jab over the summer.

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In the hours following the announcement, however, many officials and executives in the industry spoke out and condemned the government’s move, calling it ‘damaging’ and ‘shambolic.’

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said, as per Sky News: “The announcement from the prime minister that COVID passports will be made mandatory for nightclubs in September comes after his health secretary said only one week ago that they would not be compulsory.

“What an absolute shambles.”

He continued: “Leaving aside the fact that this is yet another chaotic U-turn that will leave nightclubs 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.”

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Sacha Lord, the night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, also voiced his concerns over the new rule, saying that the whole industry had been ‘taken by surprise.’

He wrote on Twitter: “Obvious questions over how these checks will be enforced, and the financial impact. How can nightclubs compete with pubs and bars down the road where these restrictions aren’t needed, or attract punters who can just as easily have a house party?!”

Just hours before the announcement, Manchester’s nightclubs ended their sixteen month drought as they welcomed in maskless guests to take to their dance floors once again. Lengthy queues were seen outside of various venues across the city as eager party-goers waited for their first night out in over a year.

As it stands, people can still attend nightclubs and other crowded venues without proof of full vaccination, face masks or social distancing.