New Year’s Eve revellers pictured in Newcastle - one potential destination for any Scots heading over the border
(Picture: Getty Images)Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced on Monday that there’ll be no new Covid restrictions introduced before New Year’s Eve - which is way out of step with Scotland and Wales.
Now people reckon there’ll be an influx of people from over the border, who want to restriction-free celebrations as the clock strikes midnight to ring in a brand new year.
In Scotland, temporary measures are already in place for hospitality and leisure businesses. These include a required one metre of physical distancing in all hospitality and indoor leisure settings including pubs and restaurants.
Table service must also be used in places where alcohol is served to drink on the premises, and nightclubs must close for a period of at least three weeks.
In Wales, restrictions have been placed on social gatherings and two-metre social distancing has returned.
From 26 December, groups of no more than six people can meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants. Outdoor events are limited to 50, with 30 people allowed indoors. This also included private homes.
This all means that New Year’s Eve celebrations in both Wales and Scotland are going to be rather muted.
And this discrepancy between England, Wales and Scotland has led some on Twitter to speculate that England is about to see an influx of partygoers to celebrate the big night.
Everyone crossing the border into England on NYE pic.twitter.com/LgiYcOdl7T
— MB (@Bowx_) December 27, 2021
Hopefully the Scots, Welsh and Norn Irish cross the border into England for a massive piss up. Will be a big one.
— AFCAMDEN (@AFCAMDEN) December 27, 2021
People in Scotland and Wales heading to the border for New Year's Eve in England
— J.R.Hartley’s Armchair (@JRsArmchair) December 27, 2021
pic.twitter.com/5Vet5ptiWb
Breaking - No new Covid rules in England before new year - Sajid Javid
— Jamie Jenkins (@statsjamie) December 27, 2021
➡️ I am sure the taxi firms will be busy shipping the youngsters from Wales and Scotland over the border for New Year celebrations. https://t.co/qgickQ328x
No change to restrictions in England. I predict a bumper NYE/Hogmanay in The Border City 🎉 🥳 💃🏻 🕺🏻 🏴 🏴
— Carmel Bones (@bones_carmel) December 27, 2021
One worried citizen even said England might need some form of internal border control:
No new Covid rules in England before new year - Javid.
— Gary, alias Toby Tyke (@GaryHol99481600) December 27, 2021
We may need border patrols.
Don’t redeploy them from the Channel though. https://t.co/aHsuPNOo2P
The welsh New Years Eve revellers will be heading to nightclubs over the border.
— StevenNott (@StevenNott) December 27, 2021
What an absolute shambles... all of it. What a disaster. Everyone is so messed up with do much confusion.
BBC News - No new Covid rules in England before new year - Javidhttps://t.co/1uVDIsHNw7
Some anti-lockdown folks encouraged those to make a break for it over the border to party on:
Anyone in Wales, Scotland and NI… ENGLAND IS OPEN!
— Joe Wilmot (@joewilmot_) December 27, 2021
Come across the border and seek safe haven here with us. Travel to England for NYE fun and be free of your unhinged governments!
Others reckon Nicola Sturgeon will blame cross-border revelry for any further spikes in cases:
She knows people will go over the border which will give her an excuse to point the finger at England again if infections rise here in Scotland.
— MaZ- erati 🚗🏴🇬🇧 (@maz_marianne) December 27, 2021
One Welsh MP said people had already been in touch over the potential movement at New Year:
Welcome news that there will be no further restrictions for England. I’ve been inundated with messages from worried businesses in Brecon and Radnorshire, particularly for those who have competitors across the border. We really must see the evidence. https://t.co/8ECt0DPwu1
— Fay Jones MP (@JonesyFay) December 27, 2021
Locals residents are also concerned:
I cannot mix with more than 6 people in bar.
— AP10 (@AndyPow58062254) December 27, 2021
No more than 30 are allowed in said bar.
Night clubs are closed.
Yet 4 miles down the road,over the border in England, it's a free for all.
My towns bars and restaurants will be quiet on NYE because everybody will be over the border
Javid said people should “remain cautious” and celebrate outside where possible, and added: “When we get into the new year, of course we will see then whether we do need to take any further measures, but nothing more until then at least.”
England reported a record number of cases on Christmas Day, with 113,628 new infections reported. There were 103,558 cases reported on 26 December and 98,515 on 27 December.
