Welsh Lib Dems Call on Labour to Provide Support to Those Impacted by COVID Passes

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their calls for the Welsh Labour Government to provide financial support to businesses impacted by their Covid pass system.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have continued to call for financial support for affected businesses after a number of community cinemas and theatres have expressed concern over coping with the additional costs involved in policing the Welsh Government scheme.

Today, the ‘Llanfyllin Film’ cinema in Llanfyllin, Montgomeryshire announced it was suspending all shows due to its frustration with the covid pass scheme.

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds said:

“I am once again calling on the Welsh Government to provide financial support to businesses affected by its ill-thought-out covid pass scheme. Many community cinemas and theatres across Wales simply cannot afford to cope with the extra costs incurred to enforce the scheme and I am worried if this issue is left unaddressed it could sound the death of small community cinemas and theatres across the country.

“I would like to reiterate that the Welsh Government has still provided no evidence its covid pass scheme has reduced transmission of COVID-19 nor has it provided any evidence as to why cinemas, theatres and music halls were unfairly singled out over other indoor spaces.

“Lastly I urge both Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru to rule out supporting any further expansion to the covid pass scheme. If the scheme is expanded to other sectors of the hospitality industry, including restaurants, café’s and bars it could have a catastrophic effect on the industry in Wales, especially considering the Government appears unwilling to front up financial support for the enforcement of the scheme.”