‘We are in a never-ending hell’, say business leaders
●Delay to easing of Covid restrictions prompts backlash from employers
Hospitality businesses say they could face “another lost summer”.
The claim comes after Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement she is likely to delay further the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in Scotland until at least the end of July.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament yesterday, the First Minister said the planned date of moving the remaining parts of Scotland in Level Two, including Edinburgh and
Glasgow, down to Level One would be delayed, along with the planned move to Level Zero for the rest of mainland Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon confirmed no changes to the levels applying to areas across Scotland would take place in the coming week and that it was “unlikely” any part of the country would move down on 28 June as planned.
However, the decision to delay further easing of restrictions until late July was also criticised as
“unforgiveable” by retail groups, with representatives for the hospitality industry saying the announcement continued a “never-ending hell”.
The delay follows an announcement on Monday by Boris Johnson, who confirmed the planned full reopening of England would not take place as planned on 21 June.
The Prime Minister said the date for lifting restrictions would be delayed by four weeks until 19 July due to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19, which has caused a spike in cases.
Ms Sturgeon said the significant part of the population yet to receive two doses of the vaccine was the “biggest vulnerability” for Scotland.
She said a further delay to relaxing restrictions would allow for more people to get vaccinated before relaxing Covid-19 measures further.
The next review date will take place next week, but Ms Sturgeon said it was “unlikely” restriction easing would go ahead.
She said: “Given the current situation, and the need to get more people fully vaccinated before we ease up further, it is reasonable to indicate now
that I think it unlikely that any part of the country will move down a level from 28 June .
“Instead, it is likely that we will opt to maintain restrictions for a further three weeks from 28 June and use that time to vaccinate as many more people as possible.
“Doing that will give us the best chance, later in July, of getting back on track and restoring the much greater normality that we all crave.”
The First Minister added that the Scottish Government would publish a paper in the coming weeks looking at what life beyond Level Zero would look like, alongside a paper on a review of physical distancing. The latter will examine whether theatres, cinemas and other arts venues may be able to operate more sustainably in the medium to long term.
However, the announcement was described as “unforgiveable” by the Federation of Small
Businesses(fsb).andandrew Mcrae, FSB Scotland’s policy chair, said state support must be “proportionate” to the level of restrictions.
He said: “Any unlocking delay comes with consequences for Scottish businesses and jobs. Hospitality and tourism firms face further weeks of restrictions, which make it difficult to cover their overheads, never mind pay down their debts.
“The bare minimum FSB expects is for state support to be proportionate to the scale of the restrictions. It would be unforgivable if governments in Edinburgh and London wound down the help on offer for firms while prolonging their difficulties.”
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) also criticised the announcement, claiming the decision would cost the industry “millions” and jeopardise the survival of many hospitality businesses.
Colin Wilkinson, SLTA managing director, said: “The hospitality sector is at breaking point with today’s announcement that the brakes are on for further easing of restrictions.
“We understand the need for caution, but the Scottish Government must also understand that this delay will cost an already beleaguered industry millions of pounds and puts in jeopardy the future survival of many of the pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and late-night bars that form part of Scotland’s social fibre.”
Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group, which has campaigned for quicker opening across Scotland and criticised the Euro 2020 fan zone, said: “This is a never-ending hell for hospitality workers and the businesses that employ them, especially those in the music and nighttime sectors.
“The government has shown that it can be flexible and understanding when it wants to, as we’ve seen with the Euros and the fan zone. All we’re asking is for hospitality to be shown the same consideration.”
Speaking at Holyrood, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said most Scots would be “scunnered” by the news that restrictions would continue for weeks.
He also asked the First Minister when all adults would receive both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, called for capacity limits at weddings to be lifted, and whether the delay to restrictions would extend to September.
Ms Sturgeon refused to put a firm target for all Scottish adults to have two doses of the vaccine and criticised Mr Ross for “putting words in my mouth”.
She said: “I would ask members and indeed those watching to pay attention to what I said. At no point did I say I thought restrictions would be in place for a period of further months, I didn’t say that.
“I have tried all along not to commit to firm dates way into the future that nobody can be certain can be delivered.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also called for a review of “inconsistent decision making”, raising the Euro 2020 fan zone in Glasgow as an example when nursery graduations were not allowed. He said: “To maintain public trust and confidence we need consistent communications, consistent decision-making, adequate support for businesses and employees alongside a robust vaccination programme, and hot-spot protocols.”
Ms Sturgeon said she did not have the “magic solution”, but would look at the measures that were “apparent” contradictions.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe chief hits out at delays over easing of restrictions
Organisers of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have hit out after the Scottish Government delayed a decision on lifting controversial curbs on live events.
Fringe Society chief executive Shona Mccarthy said it was “hugely disappointing” that there was still no clear guidance on how the event can go ahead this year.
Scottish cultural venues and event organisers have been promised that a longawaited review of strict social distancing rules will be revealed with days.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon suggested that current curbs affecting theatres and other arts venues would be addressed next week in when plans for the future easing of “all, or virtually all,” restrictions are set out. She said the findings of the review would “not be exclusively of interest to the arts and cultural sec
tor, but will be of particular interest.”
However, Ms Mccarthy said cultural events due to take place in August needed an immediate green light to operate with one metre distancing, warning the government that the current impasse was at risk of “harming this much-loved festival irreparably”.
Ms Sturgeon has also pledged to look at tackling “perceived anomalies” with the current restrictions, which are much tighter for live events than for bars and restaurants. And she has raised the prospect of a wider easing of restrictions by late July under a revamped route map out of lockdown.
Under the current guidelines, all event organisers must enforce two metre social distancing, compared to one metre distancing in hospitality businesses.
The rules in Scotland are also much tougher than in England, where venues are allowed to operate at halfcapacity.
The First Minister said it was now “unlikely” any parts of the country would be moved down a level until 19 July, but “minor changes” to the current rules may be possible before then.
She added: “We will publish two pieces of work next week that look ahead, hopefully not too far ahead, to the restoration of a much greater degree of normality.
“This work will be of interest to everyone, but it will have particular significance for the businesses and sectors, including much of our arts and culture sector, that still face the greatest uncertainty.”
But Ms Mccarthy said: “With the Fringe just weeks away, it’s hugely disappointing
to see that the culture sector – unlike the hospitality sector – still has no clear guidance on what will be possible, particularly in relation to social distancing.
“We have clear and detailed Covid mitigation plans ready to go. We need guidance on what cultural events can look like in August, and a green light for events to operate with one metre distancing, as bars and restaurants are currently able to do.
“Unlike other festivals, the Fringe does not benefit from significant public investment. Everyone participates at their own risk, and the expectation is that it should trade its way to recovery.
“We are not seeking special treatment. But parity with the easing of restrictions for other sectors is essential right now for all Fringe artists and operators to enable any activity to take place.”