A growing backlash is emerging today following Boris Johnson's announcement last night regarding plans to introduce Covid vaccine passports in clubs and at other "mass gatherings".
As The Telegraph put it this morning, it appears that Johnson has dropped the carrot and picked up the stick - and not everyone is very happy.
Night clubs returned at 00:01 on Monday 19 July, but before the day was out the Prime Minister had appeared in a televised press conference to announce new plans to introduce compulsory vaccination as a requirement of entry into nightclubs and other 'crowded events' in the autumn.
Since making the announcement yesterday, the Prime Minister has also been asked to clarify the relaxation of isolation rules for a number of fully-vaccinated key workers who've come into close contact with covid positive patients; after a Downing Street statement yesterday merely said it would not be a “blanket exemption for any sector or role”.
Speaking from his self-isolation inside number 10, the Prime Minister said that vaccination would become a condition of entry to nightclubs starting in September after Chief Medical Advisor singled out clubs out as potential "super spreading events".
The announcement regarding vaccine passports follows several weeks in which we've seen huge crowds of football fans come together, both inside and outside venues, during the Euros tournament and amidst reports this morning that Covid deaths have risen by 68% in a single week.
With Covid deaths currently their highest since April and Leeds newly named as the centre of the 'pingdemic' with more people currently in self-isolation than anywhere else in the country, some are questioning what is driving the decision making behind the rules currently at play in England.
Night Time Industries Association chief executive Michael Kill accused the Government of “an absolute shambles”.
“So, ‘freedom day’ for nightclubs lasted around 17 hours then,” he said, speaking the announcement regarding vaccine passports in nightclubs.
“80% of nightclubs have said they do not want to implement Covid passports, worrying about difficulties with enforcing the system and a reduction in spontaneous consumers, as well as being put at a competitive disadvantage with pubs and bars that aren’t subject to the same restrictions and yet provide similar environments.”
Whilst Mark Harper, a Conservative former chief whip that currently chairs the Covid Recovery Group of Tory lockdown-sceptics, criticised the new plans for vaccine passports as “effectively moving to compulsory vaccination”.
Former Conservative health secretary Jeremy Hunt also questioned the vaccine passport plans, questioning why they were being delayed until autumn.
Considering that nightclubs are predominantly popular with younger people, many of whom have only recently been invited to get their first injection, the new September deadline has created anxiety around getting their second jab in time.
Others have suggested the policy is designed to motivate younger people to get their second jab for the autumn.
Shadow health minister for Labour Justin Madders said: “How can it be safe to go to nightclubs now, with no protective measures, if in September it will require double jab status? It makes no sense.
“This proposal is more confusion and incompetence from the heart of Government at the expense of public health. They need to get a grip.”
The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.
The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.
From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.
They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.
Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.
Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.
Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a rollercoaster - in the best way possible.
Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.
Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?
Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.
Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as cheeky
Danny Jones
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
Georgina Pellant -
20th July 2021 
