Business alarm as FM banks on vaccine passports
Sturgeon warns of critical few days
NICOLA Sturgeon has announced plans to introduce vaccine passports for nightclubs, some music festivals and football matches in Scotland, sparking concerns from the hospitality sector.
It came as the First Minister warned the next few days will prove crucial in assessing whether restrictions have to be reimposed in Scotland.
Case levels in Scotland are 80 per cent higher now than they were last week, Ms Sturgeon said, and five times higher than they were four weeks ago.
The First Minister said the limited use of vaccine passports “could help to control the spread of the virus, as we head into the autumn and winter”.
Under Ms Sturgeon’s plans, certificates would be introduced later this month for nightclubs and adult entertainment venues, unseated indoor live events with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor live events for more than 4,000 people and any events with more than 10,000 people.
The wider hospitality sector, such as pubs and bars, would not be affected. However, this will be kept under review. Children and people with particular medical conditions would also be exempt.
MSPS will vote on the move next week. From tomorrow, Scots will be able to download a PDF copy of their vaccine certificate, with a personalised QR code, to print off instantly or store on their mobile phone for use domestically or internationally.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney previously suggested vaccine passports were “the wrong way to handle” things, while the Greens – who recently entered into a power-sharing agreement with the SNP – have also voiced concerns in the past. Ukhospitality Scotland executive
director Leon Thompson said Ms Sturgeon’s announcement “will cause dismay amongst businesses which have only recently been able to reopen”.
He said: “The fact that there has been no attempt to engage with the sector ahead of this announcement is extremely concerning.
“Nightclubs and event organisers will be on the frontline of implementing this policy and representatives need an opportunity to ask questions of the Scottish Government’s plans before they are put to the Scottish Parliament for approval. Whilst the introduction of certification is envisaged as limited for now, if extended, the impact on wider hospitality could be immense.
“This cannot be the thin end of the wedge, especially when no evidence has been produced to indicate that nightclubs, events or indeed any other hospitality settings are responsible for the rising number of Covid-19 cases.”
Emma Clarkin, chief executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, warned introducing vaccine passports for pubs could mean “thousands of businesses not surviving to the end of the year”.
Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, questioned how a nightclub would be defined, given the “wide variety of hybrid premises”.
Speaking in Holyrood yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said the introduction of Covid certificates “is a significant move, and not one we would ever take lightly”.
She said: “That is why I believe it should have parliamentary approval in advance.
“But it is worth stressing that although we have had to weigh this decision carefully, we would be in no way unique in taking this step.
“The UK Government has announced its intention to introduce certification for
England.
“And several European countries – including France, Italy and
Ireland – have already introduced certification.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross accused the SNP of “introducing vaccine passports at the last minute”.
He said: “It’s a striking U-turn from what John Swinney said last month, where he emphatically claimed vaccine passports were “the wrong way” to go.
He added: “We need businesses to get in-depth guidance around these certificates as soon as possible.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-hamilton branded it an “illiberal step and a dangerous precedent”.
Green MSP Gillian Mackay said it was essential the move did not adversely affect “disabled people, those with underlying health conditions and those from the global south”.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said that if vaccine passports are to be introduced, “we need the SNP to be willing to work with and support our hard-hit hospitality sector”.