Plan B: what Manchester United and Manchester City fixtures will be affected by the new Covid passport scheme?

It is thought the new Plan B measures will have a considerable impact on the city-region’s economy as well as impacting people’s daily lives.
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Greater Manchester is trying to figure out what impact the Government’s Plan B Covid-19 measures will have on the city-region’s economy and day-to-day life.

On Wednesday night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced moves which could have a considerable impact on everything from hospitality venues to larger football matches.

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The timing of the move, with scandal still swirling around Downing Street over an alleged Christmas party last year, has been heavily criticised by political leaders here.

And there are urgent calls for more support for the businesses which will be most affected by Plan B. Here, we take a look at the likely impact.

How will Manchester’s football clubs be affected?

The NHS Covid Pass scheme applies if people want to attend any event with more than 10,000 people.

This includes the city’s two Premier League football clubs, meaning supporters are expected to need a Covid pass to get into games from next Wednesday 15 December onwards. You do not need a Covid-19 booster (i.e. third dose) vaccination to get an NHS Covid Pass for use in England, the Government says.

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Instead of a Covid pass, people will also be able to show proof of a negative result from a recent lateral flow test.

Manchester City and Manchester United fans Credit: GettyManchester City and Manchester United fans Credit: Getty
Manchester City and Manchester United fans Credit: Getty

The first United fixture that will affect should be the home game against Brighton on Saturday 18 December. And it’s due to be in place for City’s away game at Newcastle on Sunday 19 December.

When Manchester World contacted Manchester United, an automated message on the club phone lines on Thursday morning said the club was in talks with the Premier League to ‘understand the implications’ of the new measures and it would provide further information when it had more clarity.

Manchester City have also been contacted for comment.

Premier League clubs were reportedly warned of the potential imposition of the new regulations last week and are believed to have been preparing for the introduction of vaccine passports in recent months.

How will hospitality be affected by Plan B?

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The new measures also say people should work from home where possible, and that NHS Covid passports will be required to get into large venues such as nightclubs, indoor gigs for over 500 unseated people and outdoor gigs for 4,000 unseated people or more.

Greater Manchester night-time economy adviser Sacha Lord said this would have a major impact on hospitality businesses and called for more financial assistance from the Government to help the sector through another challenging winter.

Sacha Lord. Photo credit: Darren Robinson PhotographySacha Lord. Photo credit: Darren Robinson Photography
Sacha Lord. Photo credit: Darren Robinson Photography

Mr Lord said: “The introduction of Covid vaccine passports for large venues will definitely have an impact on larger, non-ticketed venues across the country.

“A level of spontaneity will be removed for people who want to go to nightclubs if they are unjabbed, which will undoubtedly have a huge knock-on effect on visitor numbers.

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“Support packages are urgently needed to save our nightclubs, live music venues and large bars. This is another harsh blow to the industry that was already one of the worst hit in the pandemic, and if there is no safety net in the form of financial support from the Government, many nightclubs and bars will face the risk of closing come the New Year.

“The hospitality industry is struggling now and we are calling out for support.”

‘A Government whose authority is in tatters’

At his press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the Government had to clear up the matter of the now-infamous reported Christmas party in Downing Street before other Covid-19 measures were brought in.

Hours later, though, Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a 6pm press conference unveiling Plan B.

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Mr Burnham was unimpressed and expressed major reservations about some of the ideas floated, such as opening up further discussions about mandatory vaccination.

Greater Manchester mayor, Andy BurnhamGreater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham
Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham

Speaking on regional radio on Thursday (9 December), Mr Burnham said: “When you’re in a scandal you’ve got to clear that up and give people the truth. We haven’t been told the truth about these parties.

“That is essential if you are then going to ask people to do difficult things. If you’re not going to re-establish your authority by being open and honest with people you can’t really then start imposing all kinds of things.

“I was a bit taken aback by some of the announcement. It is a very dangerous thing for a Government with very little authority on this matter to start talking about compulsory vaccination, as I think that will alienate a large number of people.

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“We’ve seen a real set of mixed messages from a Government whose authority is currently in tatters.”

What have business groups said?

Chris Fletcher, marketing and campaigns director at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said hospitality businesses would be affected by a drop in passing trade caused by more people working from home again and this would also impact retail.

He said further measures would put doubt in people’s minds about going out and could see people doing their shopping on the internet instead.

He also called for support for businesses from ministers.

GM Chamber of Commerce policy and communications director Chris FletcherGM Chamber of Commerce policy and communications director Chris Fletcher
GM Chamber of Commerce policy and communications director Chris Fletcher

Mr Fletcher said: “This isn’t unexpected and if you’ve been following the news you got a sense of the direction it was taking, but it’s going to have an impact on businesses.

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“A couple of weekends ago Manchester was very busy and bars have been a bit busier with people having drinks after work.

“People’s retail habits have changed and they may go back to what they were doing in lockdown and ordering everything online. Local, independent retailers could be facing a tricky time.

“It’s important, especially if restrictions are going to continue and there might be others in the New Year, that the Government doesn’t just announce what you can’t do any more without the element of support to make sure businesses aren’t adversely affected. That package of support has got to be in place.”

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), meanwhile, called the Plan B measures a “body blow” and criticised the apparent inconsistencies in some of the Government’s messaging.

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Robert Downes, FSB development manager for Greater Manchester, said: “Plan B will be a body blow for many small businesses, who now face the prospect of not one but two disastrous Christmas trading periods back-to-back.

“We are now truly in unchartered territory as to what this might mean for many of them, it’s certainly not going to be good news for jobs and the economy. Let’s not forget either, Greater Manchester has been one of the worst-hit regions for restrictions previously, the wounds here are deeper than most, and the ramifications greater.

“Our town and city centre economies - already reeling under the weight of change caused by Covid, over what’s now very nearly two years of disruption – face the prospect of more pain and uncertainty through the festive period, and on in to 2022, just as many were hoping the worst of Covid was behind them.

“Service-based businesses typically rely on a fizzing festive period to get them through the lean winter months post-Christmas. If that fails to materialise for the second year running, without further support, the concern is that many won’t make it.

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“While these new measures are aimed at limiting the spread of Covid during this crucial trading period, they will absolutely impact small businesses already beset by supply chain disruption, inflation and shortages.

“It may be an overused phrase but this really is a perfect storm moment, and at the worst possible time. So plans to control the virus need to be matched by plans to protect the economy and livelihoods.

“The message from government doesn’t really help, either. In one breath they are saying work from home, but in the next they are saying don’t cancel the parties? This kind of confusion won’t help people – or businesses for that matter – make the decisions they need to.

“Many small businesses have already spent thousands on making their premises safer for customers and staff since Covid struck. So we’re urging the Government to swiftly clarify where it stands on new measures, its strategy for enforcement, the expectations on small firms, and what help is in the offing.”