Scots today were urged by the Scottish government to stay away from big-ticket New Year’s Eve events. English pubs will be expecting thousands to come across the border for this celebration.
Nicola Sturgeon advised everyone to avoid large Hogmanay celebrations, and that they should limit socializing.
However, many Scots may travel to England in order to get around the coronavirus restrictions and see the New Year.
John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland today urged all Scots not to follow the Scottish Government’s lead.
Omicron was ‘proliferating very, very broadly within our society’. He stated that it is ‘posing a serious threat’ to the country and people have been urged not to socialize.
Groups of excited Scots were pictured yesterday arriving in Newcastle, Blackpool and London to celebrate New Year’s Eve and go to football matches with more expected to follow suit today.
Nicola Sturgeon banned Hogmanay parties large and recommended that people limit their socializing as much as they can
After having traveled from Fife, Aidyn Stott was boarding the train to Newcastle. Following his frustration with strict Scottish regulations, Aidyn Stott plans to spend 31st Street in Newcastle.
Sarah Hall (middle), 23, had traveled from Dunbar. She is combing a NYE evening out with her friend for her birthday
Taylor Houston (18) was accompanied by a few friends who had come from Dundee. They then met up with more people later that day. He said: ‘I think it’s wrong that the restrictions are different in Scotland, but that’s Nicola Sturgeon for you’
A train carrying people from Scotland arrived yesterday at Kings Cross. Passengers may also have been able to board at other stations along the route.
Last week, Ms. Sturgeon had announced the prohibition on Hogmanay large-scale events and decided to keep it in place earlier this week.
In order to “avoid overwhelming cases”, the First Minister stated that it is prudent and necessary to act to decrease the transmission.
She has urged people to reduce their contacts with other households and to ‘limit the size of any indoor social gatherings that do take place so that they don’t include people from any more than three households’.
In Wales, there are similar social restrictions and experts predict as many 100,000 Welsh and Scottish revellers will travel to Wales in order to have fun.
In England there aren’t any such restrictions. People are encouraged to do a Covid before heading to parties.
Swinney was confronted by a question about why the Scottish Government didn’t ‘trust people’ enough to be tested prior to celebrating.
He said this to BBC Radio 4’s Today:Trust is something we believe in and have encouraged people to trust us.
‘But we have also asked people to limit their social contact because we can see from all of the data that you have just recounted that Omicron is spreading very, very widely within our society.
‘It poses a serious threat to us, we can see hospitalisation levels are increasing… so at a time when I recognise all of the sentiments that were set out in the clip that you have just played, I recognise all of those traditions, I have been part of them, I value them, I appreciate them, I love them, it is part of who we are.
‘But unfortunately this time around we have to apply some constraints on the level of social interaction we have to protect others.’
Swinney stated earlier in the week that he wouldn’t encourage Scots to travel to England for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
He stated that people are allowed to make these decisions, but he would discourage them.
Images of Scots arriving in English towns were taken yesterday by a group.
Newcastle is a particular draw given its proximity to Scotland and famously lively party scene, and yesterday there was a steady flow of Scots arriving at Central Station.
Aidyn Stott was getting off the train after travelling from Fife with his partner. After becoming tired of strict Scottish regulations, he plans to spend today in Newcastle.
MailOnline was informed by the 21-year-old joiner that he didn’t like living with restrictions in Scotland. We will be celebrating the New Year with our friends and family. We will be attending the Tup Tup club.
“I do not agree with Scotland’s restrictions. A few miles away south of the border you can go out as normal. It makes no sense.
‘It’s good to come to Newcastle because you’re used to going out back home all the time and it gets a bit boring.
‘You can come here and go to the football and do a lot more than you can in Scotland.’
One Scottish taxi driver had travelled from Edinburgh with his partner for a trip to Newcastle.
He didn’t want to be named but said: ‘It’s nice just to be able to get away from the Covid situation in Scotland. I’m going down to London as well soon to watch Chelsea play football to just get away from it.
Nicola Sturgeon isn’t a drinker, but she does teetotal. Her target is the working man. She hates everything about the people she targets.
‘On a normal New Year’s Eve I’d be working or I would be at my local pub where every year there are hundreds of people. This is not happening now, and that affects all. I think the restrictions are unjust because they don’t work.
Alex Torrence (32) is 32 and works in a Glasgow hotel. He arrived at Euston station in London this morning, and stated that he was heading to Brighton to see friends.
He said he had spent ‘well over £100’ to make the trip, adding: ‘I booked the trip long before the restrictions came in, but I decided I was going to come anyway. The hotel where I work is currently closed. The time was already booked. It’s not a good idea.
“I understand the limitations that Nicola Sturgeon placed on people, but they also need to continue living their lives.”
I spent Christmas Day alone because my mother is vulnerable, and she hasn’t got the booster yet. I will not be the only one there on New Years Eve.
Mike was originally from Scotland, and arrived at King’s Cross with three of his male friends. He said that they would be going out to central London in the following nights. He responded, “Aye. I don’t mind.” [about the Covid restrictions]. “I’m here for a good laugh.”