The streets of Manchester city centre are usually teeming with revellers on any given weekend.
But the familiar hustle and bustle that makes part of why the city is so great has sadly been somewhat non-existent since the country was first placed under national lockdown restrictions amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic towards the end of March 2020, and while the partial lifting of those restrictions throughout the year and the introduction of the tiered system that followed, allowed for a significant number of hospitality businesses to welcome customers through their doors for a period of time, before being ordered to close once again, others have never been permitted to reopen at all.
When it comes to the identifying the industries that have been continuously subjected to ongoing restrictions, it’s hard to recognise the nighttime economy – the fifth biggest industry in the UK – as being anything other than one of the hardest hit.
Nightclubs right across the UK have now been closed for in excess of 329 days.
And after ongoing economic struggles, several devastating permanent closures, and a long, hard fight by business owners and industry names – as well as the forming of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in December – that inevitably arose as a result of prolonged shut-down, the Nighttime Industries Association (NTIA) was left with no choice but to issue a stark warning to the government last month.
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The body urged government ministers to provide further financial support to nightclubs, after warnings came that 75% of clubs could face serious hardship during the third national lockdown.
While some of Manchester’s most iconic nightclubs and entertainment venues were among those to celebrate receiving a share of the government’s £1.57 billion Cultural Recovery Fund, many more were denied funding and were left feeling that the Arts Council considered them to be “culturally insignificant” due to their rejection.
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NTIA CEO Michael Kill said that the entire sector faced financial ruin if support is not implemented soon.
“Our biggest concern at the moment is nightclubs becoming systematically extinct by the government’s ignorance and lack of narrative around the night time economy.” Mr Kill said.
“That becomes a cultural issue and an economic issue.”
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Visit Manchester / Flickr
The overarching feeling among the night time industry was that it had ultimately been forgotten by the government throughout the pandemic.
Neglected to be addressed in the daily press conferences, and with updates only sporadically provided.
But yesterday evening, after what seemed to be one of the longest times coming, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation directly via a live televised Downing Street press conference and appeared to hint that Brits could be allowed to return to nightclubs with the use of rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests.
Mr Johnson said that the use of lateral flow tests could be the “route forward” to reopening those businesses that have been “the toughest nuts to crack”.
"We want this lockdown to be the last."
Boris Johnson says his roadmap out of lockdown that he will announce on 22 February will outline "as much as we possibly can about the route to normality, even though some things are very uncertain".
Ahead of the revealing of his roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions next week, the Prime Minister said: “For the purposes of this country and doing things within the domestic UK economy, we will look at everything.
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“But what we are thinking of at the moment is more of a route that relies on mass vaccination [as] we intend to vaccinate all of the adults in the country by the autumn, plus lateral flow testing, rapid testing for those bits that have been the toughest nuts to crack.
“Such as nightclubs or theatres – those parts of the economy we couldn’t get open last year.
“I think that will be the route that we go down and that businesses will go down [and] you are already seeing lots of business using the potential of rapid, on-the-day testing as well.
“I think that, in combination with vaccination, will probably be the route forward.”
He then insisted that it was “still early days” in easing COVID1 -19 measures, and that “there are lots of discussions still to be had”.
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Pregnancy-style lateral flow tests, or ‘rapid’ tests, have been used by the government as part of “surge testing” in areas with high coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates – including most recently in parts of the borough of Manchester where a new variant has been found – as they can give results in 30 minutes.
They are also currently being offered to people who do not have symptoms in a range of settings, such as universities, schools, care homes and workplaces, with the potential for nightclubs to be added to that list.
Despite previous doubts by Public Health England (PHE) over their reliability, Sir Patrick Vallance – the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser – last week described lateral flow tests as a “really important part of our toolkit”.
The government is reported to have spent more than £1 billion on lateral flow tests so far.
The news of the Prime Minister’s indication that rapid flow testing could be introduced in night clubs has been met with relief by notable figures within the nighttime economy sector, including Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser and co-founder of Warehouse Project and Parklife, Sacha Lord.
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After continuing to remain at the forefront of the fight to save the industry over the past 11 months, Mr Lord took to Twitter to give his thoughts.
Can someone pinch me please….
Tonight, after 11 months…The Prime Minister has finally uttered the word we have been waiting for:
With the release of the roadmap and the delivery of the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget both on the horizon, Mr Lord also said in an tweet prior to the Prime Minister’s press conference address that: “The next two weeks are the most critical two weeks for hospitality, that I can ever remember”.
“We must do everything we can, to fight to save the 5th biggest industry in the UK”.
Offering further comment and reflection on the Prime Minister’s announcement in an appearance on BBC Breakfast this morning, Mr Lord also clarified that: “None of the [venues] that I’m speaking to think it’s viable to open at a socially-distanced rate, they’re all pushing for 100% and this is the key,
“This is the answer and this is what we set out many, many months ago… that we have two options to get into these venues, either you have had the vaccine, or you have a quick test on entry.”
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.@BBCBreakfast this morning. After 5 months of talks with the Government, it feels like theatres, live music venues, events, nightclubs etc, are a step closer. The conversation has now moved to reopening. pic.twitter.com/WRAhprBbLf
He closed by acknowledging the fact that he knows that lateral flow tests still take time to produce results at this point, but said “we are not expecting nightclubs to open tomorrow” and commended the situation the country is in with regards to the wider vaccine rollout.
While it’s unclear at this point as to whether rapid testing will be the “route forward” that is hoped for nightclubs, there is at least some light at the end of the tunnel.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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Independent review into police actions during Manchester synagogue terror attack finds ‘no misconduct’
Emily Sergeant
An independent review into the terror attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall last week has concluded there was ‘no misconduct’ by the police.
The investigation was carried out by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following the shocking knife and car attack, which took place last Thursday 2 October on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
Two men sadly lost their lives during the attack – Adrian Daulby, 53, who is believed to have been shot dead by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) while trying to stop the attacker from entering the synagogue, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, a worshipper who also helped stop the attacker.
The attacker has been named as 35-year-old Jihad al Shamie – a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent who lived in Prestwich – who at the time was on bail for an alleged rape, before being shot dead by police.
Statement from Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson following an update from the Independent Office for Police Conduct. This comes after last week's attack at Heaton Park Synagogue. pic.twitter.com/5tQQKeNaTh
The IOPC says its investigation is ‘mandatory’ in situations where police use of force may have resulted in the death of a member of the public.
Their investigation looked at the actions and decision-making of the officers involved in the incident.
“Over the coming days, we will continue to review the substantial amount of evidence gathered up to now, and will begin the process of obtaining more detailed statements from police witnesses,” the IOPC said in a statment.
GMP’s Chief Constable, Sir Stephen Watson, says he ‘welcomes’ the IOPC’s finding that no misconduct is apparent in the actions required of officers in ‘bringing this dreadful attack to an end’.
An independent review into police actions during the Manchester synagogue terror attack has found ‘no misconduct’ / Credit: GMP
He said in a statement addressing the matter: “Our thoughts will always be with the families and loved ones of those directly affected by this tragedy together with the wider community across Greater Manchester and beyond. Our significant presence and determination to protect everyone from all faith communities across our city region will continue unabated.”
With the IOPC’s investigation into the incident still ongoing, CC Watson assured ‘GMP is committed to openness, transparency, and candour’.
“In respect of all our previous dealings with [al Shamie], and we have therefore asked the IOPC to include this aspect in their ongoing review,” CC Watson continued.
“This includes previous reports of harassment, and an arrest for reports of rape over the past year, for which he was on bail at the time of the attack.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Breakaway competition R360 issues statement after rubgy unions warn players of sanctions
Danny Jones
Prospective breakaway competition R360 have issued a response to the joint statement from multiple countries’ rugby unions, which has warned players of sanctions should they choose to join the new league.
While the vast majority seemingly remain opposed to the new concept, backing from certain key figures has resulted in the likes of the UK and Irish rugby unions, along with other key nations, sharing their unified stance against the potential rival.
Put in the simplest terms, the R360 model is rugby’s equivalent of what the proposed European ‘Super League’ was for football just a few years ago, with similar questions being raised around how it could jeopardise existing contests, player wellbeing and more.
Now, though, the new format – which has been largely backed and developed by former World Cup winner with England, Mike Tindall – delivered its own reply on Wednesday, 8 October.
Shared publicly to the press, the alternative tournament wrote: “It’s not always easy to embrace new opportunities, but as we’ve seen throughout history, it’s essential for any sport to grow. So many players love what R360 can do for them and the game, and we can’t wait to kick off next year.
“Player welfare is one of the key reasons for creating our global series, which will greatly reduce player load and capture the attention of a new generation of fans globally. We want to work collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar.
“The series is designed with bespoke schedules for men’s and women’s teams and R360 will release all players for international matches, as written into their contracts. Our philosophy is clear – if players want to play for their country, they should have that opportunity. Why would the unions stand in their way?
“We look forward to submitting to the World Rugby Council for sanctioning next summer as planned.”
At present, R360 is due to hold its inagural season this time next year, with eight new male teams and four women’s sides expected to get underway from October 2026 onwards.
In addition to more lucrative contracts like those promised in the IPL (Indian Premier League) cricket, LIV Golf and the aforementioned albeit failed Super League, R360 is also set to offer a reduced playing schedule but one that would still tempt athletes away from their current teams to new franchises.
The national rugby unions of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Italy have released the following statement on the proposed R360 competition ⬇️#IrishRugby
Although they have assured player care is an utmost priority, their health and fitness is one of my concerns put forward by the total eight rubgy unions who have urged current pros to stay away from the breakaway competition.
In case you haven’t seen the statement release by England, Ireland and Scotland, as well as France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, it begins by “urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition.”
Assuring that they welcome “investment and innovation in rugby”, they feel this particular idea won’t improve the sport but could instead “fragment or weaken it.”
Having assessed the proposals supposed value/addition to the “rugby’s global ecosystem”, it seems the fear is that the outcome will be a “net negative to the game”, with little to no detail as to how it can run alongside existing fixtures, assure proper management of player welfare and more.
As for Wales, despite opting not to put their name to the open letter itself, they have stated publicly: “The Welsh Rugby Union supports this statement, and we’re considering changes we may need to make to qualification rules in Wales as part of ongoing analysis following our recent consultation process.”
The statement continues: “The R360 model, as outlined publicly, rather appears designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, potentially hollowing out the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development, and participation pathways.”
It seems there is deep concern for how it could affect grassroots and the international rugby too, not just league and union, and have failed to full explain or help key organisations “better understand their business and operating model.”
Most notably, they sign off by adding: “Each of the national unions will therefore be advising men’s and women’s players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection.”
What do you make of the whole debate – do you like the current schedule/format as it is, or do you think there’s room for a new chapter in the rugby world?
Emily Sergeant -
16th February 2021 
