Midweek Sport

PARTY CENTRAL!

England braces for NYE invasions from Scotland and Wales...

- By COLIN HURST news@sundayspor­t.co.uk

FED-UP Scottish and Welsh boozers are gearing up to INVADE England, which is set to become party central as we see in 2022.

Scottish nationalis­t bossyboots Nicola Sturgeon and left wing Welsh killjoy Mark Drakeford have slapped their nations with draconian and illogical restrictio­ns, even though the new Omicron variant of COVID looks less serious than previous mutations.

Now English regions bordering Scotland and Wales are bracing themselves for a New Year invasion after the crackdowns left England as the only country free to party.

City centres in Scotland and Wales were pictured desolate and lifeless amid the introducti­on of new COVID restrictio­ns for pubs and clubs, which included the rule of six and social distancing for thousands of venues.

Meanwhile, revellers have let their hair down in England after Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed no new rules would be put in place before the end of 2021.

As a result, people living in areas where venues have been shut down have taken to social media to share their plans to cross the border and enjoy a night out on the town in areas such as Bristol and Newcastle.

Locked-down businesses are furious at the new rules, particular­ly in Scotland where many would have been banking on substantia­l sales around Hogmanay celebratio­ns.

Woes

In Wales, there has also been frustratio­n. Andrew Davies, leader of the Conservati­ves in the Senedd, said: “Once again, this reinforces the need for Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay to urgently publish the scientific evidence and advice behind its recent decisions.”

Their woes were echoed by University of Brighton virologist Dr Sarah Pitt, who said it does not make sense for UK nations to have different COVID restrictio­ns.

She said: “If people can’t go to a New Year’s Eve party in Wales or Scotland, they’ll just tip over the borders into England, won’t they, thus potentiall­y taking the virus and spreading it, and then taking it back home.

“So it makes sense to have one set of measures across the whole country and I think it does make sense to have some measures to try to stop the spread of the virus at this point.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he will rely on guidance to limit socialisin­g over the New Year, rather than legally binding rules.

 ?? ?? KILLJOYS: Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford
KILLJOYS: Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom