Boris Johnson’s plans for vaccine passports in nightclubs appear to be in chaos after ministers admitted they will take “weeks” to work out - and could include pubs.
The Prime Minister last night “served notice” that being double-jabbed will be a “condition of entry” to “nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather” from the end of September.
With all adults offered two doses by that point, punters will have to show they’ve been vaccinated - unless medically exempt - and proof of a negative test will not be sufficient.
But that raised furious questions about why the government was letting them open now without limits - and demands to know exactly which venues would be affected.
Nightlife firms also blasted the announcement, which came just 17 hours after they were allowed to open in England.
Business Minister Paul Scully today admitted it will take “weeks” to work out how the system will work.
In the meantime he urged venues to take part in the existing voluntary ‘Covid pass’ system, which allows punters to show proof of two jabs or a negative test.
He told Sky News: “We are looking at having nightclubs and other large ticketed events where people are coming together.
“This will be in September so we’ll work on the details over the next few weeks.
“It’s got to go through parliamentary scrutiny, we’ve got to get it absolutely right, we’ve got to work with the sectors that are going to be affected to make sure we can define this really carefully.”
Boris Johnson ’s official spokesman deliberately refused to rule out crowded pubs being included in the scheme.
The PM's spokesman said Mr Johnson was “not keen for that to happen in pubs, certainly”, but added: “I’m not seeking to draw any specific lines around what sectors we’ll be considering.”
The spokesman said nightclubs "are where there is the significant evidence we have at the moment", but the government will "use the coming weeks" to examine evidence before making a decision.
The spokesman admitted it was only "last week" that the government decided to make vaccine passports compulsory in some venues.
He added there are "certainly no plans to introduce charging for tests" from September, though firm plans are not yet set out.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls warned the U-turn could cost "thousands of jobs" in the nightlife industry.
She said: “This announcement comes as a hammer blow on a day when nightclubs, a sector that has been closed by the Government for 16 months, were finally given hope.
"Covid passports will be a costly burden that run the risk of creating flashpoints between staff and customers, as well as raising potential issues with equalities legislation and the handling of customer data."
Others demanded to know why England’s nightclubs are open now.
Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders said: “This make it up as you go along government is causing more chaos when what people and businesses need is certainty.
“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.”
