The pushback against vaccine passports continues to gather momentum. Earlier, we published a report on an open letter sent to the Prime Minister – signed by over 1,000 of the UK’s Christian leaders – warning against the introduction of “medical apartheid” under a vaccine passport scheme. Now, a new charter, “Open for All“, has been signed by more than 60 restaurant owners and other hospitality figures, telling Boris that they will not force customers to show Covid Status Certificates as a condition of entry. The Telegraph has the story.
In a letter to the Prime Minister… the signatories make clear their opposition to Covid status certification being used in hospitality settings.
“We will not be forcing our patrons to show us any documentation referring to health status to gain entry,” one line of the letter reads.
The intervention is a shot across the bows of the Government as ministers consider whether to require restaurants and pubs to check the Covid status of customers.
Among the signatories are the CEOs of Rekom UK, which runs 42 nightclubs, and Tokyo Industries, which runs clubs, festivals and bars. Others backing the letter include senior figures at venues such as The Hippodrome Casino, Electric Star Pubs, Bocca de Lupo, Proud Cabaret, Brindisa and Burger&Lobster.
Alan Miller, the co-founder of Night Time Industries Association, who organised the letter, said: “The British people have been diligent and remarkable over this last year, and we’ve all waited for so long to get back to normal.
“We were told in January that vaccines were our way out, and that we were on a one-way road to freedom. It is a far cry from freedom if we are put in the position where pubs, clubs, festivals, shows and venues of any kind are forced to demand health papers. We won’t be doing it.”
The letter congratulates the Government for its successful vaccine rollout but insists that there are many reasons why some people may choose not to get a Covid vaccine, adding that it would be wrong for venues to ask customers to present health-related documents. It reads:
We have no axe to grind politically and many of us think the vaccine rollout has been tremendous for those who wish to take it.
We also know that for many reasons some will not have a vaccine.
Furthermore, we do not believe it is right that we, as premises and promoters, should demand to see proof of medical records or health status. The majority of people in the UK have chosen to be vaccinated.
There are many practical and logistical issues for us alongside civil liberty and discrimination considerations more broadly for society if venues or events insist on seeing any kind of health-related documents.
The Telegraph‘s report is worth reading in full.
Stop Press: Julia Hartley-Brewer has urged all hospitality business owners to sign up to the declaration to “[ensure] vaccine passports never happen”.
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Finally they grow some teeth.
Masks and distancing….? My savings might still be safe but it’s a start.
Have they got the courage to maintain their principles if/when faced with the choice of operating at reduced capacity due to social distancing rules or fully reopening with a passport scheme?
It’s a start – but needs publicity and vocal support rather than carping.
I’ll be writing to all our local pub chains asking them to join this initiative. Shepherd Neame have already voiced their concerns so hopefully they will sign up.
This is how it ends, not with a bang but with a Wimpy (other burhers are available). Would be good if some big chains joined in. If if takes off we’ll just be back in lockdown sooner.but it’s a gesture
Out for a drink at a pub yesterday lunchtime, no details taken. Dinner at a local restaurant last night. Other than my telephone number asked for when I originally booked, no further details taken. Booked for lunch at a local restaurant today for later this week. Didn’t want any further details.
Likewise, went for a drink in a Cotswold pub yesterday – waitress asked if we had scanned the QR – said I didn’t have a smartphone, so she just asked for my name and phone number. Unfortunately I think I made a mistake with my number (!) – my companion had scanned the QR code, but does not have any data connection on his phone. Not even asked why I wasn’t wearing a muzzle. Will head back to that pub soon.
That is the way forward, slowly but surely the whole thing will be forgotten provided people walk out if premises insist on QR codes etc.
The Angel Inn in Corbridge Northumbria clearly didn’t get the memo but this must be regarded as bad publicity.
Senior NHS ‘vaccine specialist’ whistleblower testifies to the culture in the NHS surrounding the “jabs” with some very worrying revelations. This is a must watch broadcast, for sure
UK Column News – 14th April 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap1A7ihzZsM
Wow! That scared the crap out of me. Deep appreciation for those guys for giving whistleblowers a place to speak out.
Though how are they still on YouTube?
Will the government ramp up its efforts and provide financial incentives to businesses to introduce vaccine passport schemes? Well it would have to be a pretty massive offer to make up for all the business lost if they did go ahead with it. I think there are plenty of people opposed to the idea of going through a health check-point before entering a pub, restaurant, etc for them just to be boycotted by their previous customers.
Which, of course, is a strategy the general public can and should use to only support those businesses that have signed up for the “Open For All” initiative.
Just the excuse the behavoural psychos will need to tell Boris Bunter to lock us down again..( Apols for negativity)
Correct. Specifically, that it’s our fault of course!
There’s no more justification for asking for your Covid status than asking for your HIV status.
We have a vaccine for those that want it. If that doesn’t solve your anxiety then it is for you to stay at home, not me. I’m not the one with the problem.
One of my retorts I have ready, to normies who shove their masked features into my business is: “I don’t buy into your delusions, and I’m not part of your psychosis.”
Or as someone said many months ago
‘I refuse to be a prisoner to your fears’.
Or: my freedom does not end where your fear begins.
Absolutely spot on!
As Fletch said to Godber : ” Little victories, Lennie,little victories”.
I think Fletch did get out of clink for a weekend by scamming ‘domestic problems’.
Yes.
woo hoo, what a joke. They are planning to lock us down again anyhoo
You demand snake oil passports, you no get my custom. I’d say that even if I were vaccinated fifty times over.
Which they are probably plotting to arrange for all of us here!
Finally, some businesspeople start to understand that the plan by the cowards in government and parliament is just to ab-use them to do the dirty and dodgy work on their behalf and are putting up a fight.
About time.
Morally above all.
You wont be doing it? wtf? You will obey his royal Johnson or it is to the guillotine for you
Is Wetherspoon signed up? Or any of the other pub chains?
Last time Spoons responded differently in different venues. One told me ‘No QR code, no entry’ while others were quite easy about it.
Lets hope sports and music venues join the opposition to the digital surveillance, not good signs from the Premier League so far though.
They’d have to get off their knees to mount a fightback – where there is more money (wokery) there is more go along get along, small businesses are going to suffer, they need to unite.
Well sport is run purely on borrowed money. The games and the teams are just a front. They’ve made it clear that they don’t need them, and the last year has driven it home.
The only solution if you want to watch an actual game is to go local. Small clubs. No borrowed money. Just the love of the game.
I think people are just going to have to vote with their wallets. Take the furlough payout and pocket it. Pay down the mortgage. Pay of the hire purchase, and sit tight. Then, very quietly, use what freedoms you are technically allowed to protest. I mean, what would the Police have done in London if every citizen came out at the same time to take their exercise 2m apart, walking for 7miles to take some exercise, like Boris?
What would they do if people now if we went to the pubs for a takeaway coffee and sat in the park drinking it? Then met in our gardens fur a booze-up? Pubs stay open and in business, people meet up. But no one is T&Ted or vax passported, but they also don’t lose out socially. Not perfect, but dies protect businesses while making the point.
mass civil disobedience is the only way out but it will only work if we all go at it together
Yep we’ve ALL got to say NO NO NO!!!
As the old lady said…..
Looking below, it appears that common sense breaks out to some extent Money talks. There is a thread in the ‘Forum’ on the subject of boycotting any place that tries it on, as well.
Presumably you could add to the list of those not wanting or needing the vaccine, all those who have had Covid? Immune and with a great set of antibodies. That’s a few million I guess? All those positive cases shouldn’t need a vaccine?
Roll the passports out now or pandemic 2 will be with us by Christmas to ensure it
Bill says
About time they spoke up because otherwise we would not be going anywhere that does insist on them.
Roll up roll up, your sleeves!
“Care home residents ‘barred’ from voting in local elections because of Covid rules” from DT
===================================
This is totally unacceptable!”
well, after they got thrown under the bus first time round, Tories reckon there likely won’t be too many oldies in care homes keen to vote for them – so just remove another democratic right from them then. What about letting them have a postal vote Boris?? or are you too frit???
I’m disappointed its only been signed by around 60. But then every journey starts with a prayer (from a Christian leader)…and wherever possible finishes with a pint or two. And you can’t beat a good typo! See pic.
He can poke this precisely up whence most of what he says originates.
Thanks for another insightful and informative newsletter. We have a Hong Kong Chinese student staying with us and she told us that the HK authorities have just introduced a law requiring vaccine passports for entry to hotels and restaurants – sounds familiar?