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.”
Newly-appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shared plans for a brand-new Health and Social Care 'North' in Leeds as one of his first big plans as leader.
Set to be based right here in the city centre, the new Yorkshire base for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will serve as a Northern hub for the crucial cog in the public sector.
This comes not long after Andy Burnham announced and opened 'No. 10 North' at his previous base over in Greater Manchester, which took barely a week to get up and running.
Headed up by current Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, the initiative will be building on the vision outlined not only by Burnham but on the groundwork laid by her predecessor and now Defence Minister, Wes Streeting.
The new Defence Minister, Wes Streeting, says that social care has been ignored for too long and needs a clear long-term plan.
Mr Streeting, who was Health and Social Care Secretary until earlier this year, reflected on new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham's, first few days in… pic.twitter.com/Udnd1EwcsE
As per a report by LBC, an insider close to Cooper - the Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley - told the outlet that this big step for the North "will help bring decision-making closer to the communities we serve and strengthen our ability to improve health outcomes across the country."
"She has asked the Department to draw up plans that would complement the plans for Number 10 North on the other side of the Pennines", they continued, "allowing Ministers to work from Quarry House [in LS2] in the North, and strengthening DHSC operations in other parts of the country."
With confirmation now coming that the old 'Quarry on the Hill' has been chosen as the satellite station for the soon-to-be-overhauled Department, the selection makes sense given its current government operations.
As well as being a major headquarters for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), it also has offices reporting to DHSC, NHS staff and other parts of the civil service.
In addition, it's also worth noting that the PM has just announced another big change to the education sector, too, essentially trying to redress the balance between "academic and technical" training.
Great news for everyone looking to seek out solid and hopefully more stable careers across the nation.
Building on Leeds' existing offices, the idea is that this will ensure more considered development across more regions and specific communities, West Yorkshire being just one of them.
Many localities still understandably feel like they fall foul of being somewhat overlooked, especially up in this part of the country.
But, as alluded to above, the hope is that this continued sense of devolution and efforts to work more directly with local governments should help bridge the gap between Whitehall, Westminster and the rest.
As the PM said in his first speech at his new Northern premises, he said a big part of his ethos is about "putting power in every postcode" and making a change from things just feeling "like an argument with people in the centre of government and people having a to and from all of the time."
While official opening dates etc for Health and Social Care North are still yet to be revealed, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester has insisted that he will be working from No.10 North at least once a week. What do you make of it all, Leeds?
DMA’S announce VERY intimate Leeds gig ahead of major tour
Daisy Jackson
DMA'S have just announced details of some of their most intimate gigs yet, with the Aussie trio set to perform at record stores and tiny music venues around the UK.
The indie-rock heavyweights have just announced a handful of very intimate shows this summer, ahead of their much larger tour in 2027.
DMA'S will be treating fans to up-close acoustic gigs in cities including Leeds, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Dundee and Bristol.
The shows are to celebrate the release of their self-titled fifth album, which is due for release on 21 August.
DMA'S will be playing the outstore gigs the week after the album is released, kicking things off in Kingston on 24 August.
Then they'll head out to some of the nation's finest record stores and intimate event spaces, including a stop at The Wardrobe in Leeds.
DMA'S' Leeds gig will take place at The Wardrobe in partnership with Crash Records, giving fans the chance to catch the trio in one of the city's best-loved intimate live music venues.
The announcement follows the release of the band’s latest single, Killing Time, a fast-paced, euphoric and instantly infectious anthem that continues to build anticipation for the album.
This is a rare chance to see DMA'S – Johnny Took, Matt Mason and Tommy O’Dell – in an intimate setting, when they normally dominate some of the biggest stages in the world.
DMA’S have accrued more than 500 million streams across their catalogue, four multi-platinum singles, multiple ARIA Award nominations, and 13 songs in triple j’s coveted Hottest 100.
These intimate outstores mean fans won't have to wait all the way until 2027 to see the boys live again, when they'll be heading out on a much bigger UK tour.
Georgina Pellant -
20th July 2021 
