Timeline of Lockdown and 2020 Glastonbury Festival Cancellation

Pilton/Glastonbury Festival

 

 

Protecting Somerset

 

This article was compiled using our own research on Glastonbury Festival and based on a very useful timeline compiled by the excellent human rights "EachOther" website.

Summary

 

Glastonbury Festival 2020 was cancelled the day after Wetherspoon's supremo Tim Martin warned that a lockdown would harm pubs, and before Martin stated on 20th March that he intended to keep pubs open. 

 

It was cancelled on 18th March, between the Prime Minister advising against pubs, clubs, theatres etc, but before the FORCED shutdown of pubs (which almost coincided with Martin's statement of defiance). 

 

This was five days before the full lockdown.

 

Somerset Independents applauds the decision. We do, however, question how it came about and whether lessons have been learned for 2021. This is explored elsewhere on this website.

 

Evidence

Thursday 12th March 2020

Glastonbury Festival in jeopardy amid coronavirus outbreak as Ireland goes into lockdown

The UK's biggest music events are believed to be under threat as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread with Ireland confirming the country is going into lockdown from 6pm tonight.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/glastonbury-festival-jeopardy-amid-coronavirus-21680327

"A number of festivals, including Coachella and Snowbombing, have already been axed over fears surrounding the ongoing pandemic."

"Another major music gathering which could fall victim to the coronavirus outbreak is the Reading and Leeds Festival - despite organisers insisting they are ploughing ahead with plans to run the 2020 event as scheduled despite the coronavirus outbreak."

 

Sunday 15th March 2020

"Hancock warns that over-70s would be asked to “self-isolate”, by not leaving their homes, for an extended period “within weeks”. Due to the voluntary nature of the restrictions, there is no interference with human rights."

Advice to be given on social distancing on Monday (16th March), the BBC article says.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51895873

 

Monday 16th March 2020

"Boris Johnson advises everyone in the UK against “non-essential” travel and contact with others and suggests people should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and work from home if possible. At this stage, these are merely suggestions. He warns that other vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and those with underlying conditions, may be asked to self-isolate. Many business express anger that the PM has not forced them to close – which could have offered them financial protection."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51917562

Tuesday 17th March 2020

Wetherspoon boss warns against coronavirus lockdown on pubs 

Hospitality sector calls for immediate government action to avert potential “cashflow catastrophe.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/03/17/wetherspoons-boss-attacks-coronavirus-lockdown-pubs/

 

 

Wednesday 18th March 2020

Glastonbury 2020 cancelled over coronavirus with 50th anniversary rescheduled

Organisers Michael and Emily Eavis have confirmed this year's festival will be postponed in a dramatic U-turn after announcing the line-up last week.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-glastonbury-cancelled-over-coronavirus-21712613

One commenter:

"About time, what were the organisers thinking in even letting the Glastonbury festival even go ahead a few weeks ago? Common sense has prevailed at last."

 

Friday 20th March 2020

Tim Martin spoke before the Johnson announcement, to say that he intends to keep Wetherspoons open.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/20/coronavirus-wetherspoons-boss-says-uk-pubs-will-stay-open-as-long-as-possible

Boris Johnson orders all pubs, cafes, restaurants, bars and gyms to close. The chancellor also announces that the taxpayer will meet 80 percent of the wages of employees temporarily sent home from firms hit by the crisis.

Though peaceful enjoyment of property is protected by the ECHR in Protocol 1 Article 1, this right can be interfered with in the public interest. As advice to avoid social contact had not been voluntarily heeded, it can be argued closing premises is in the public interest.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/20/london-pubs-cinemas-and-gyms-may-close-in-covid-19-clampdown

 

 

Monday 23rd March 2020

The prime minister announces a nationwide lockdown – a drastic set of measures restrict movement and assembly. It is announced that police will be granted powers within days to enforce the government’s “social distancing” measures.

The public is supposed to stay at home and only leave for list of reasonable excuses.

It comes following reports of  many people flouted its advice on “social distancing” – staying home as much as possible to curb the spread of the virus.

The government also asks about 1.5million vulnerable people who will likely need hospital treatment to “shield” themselves. This involves voluntarily staying at home for 12 weeks to avoid getting the virus. This is not currently a legal requirement.

Wednesday 25th March 2020

The Coronavirus Act 2020 is passed granting the government and other authorities “unprecedented” powers.

It provides the health secretary the power to prohibit events and gatherings, for the purpose of preventing the transmission of coronavirus.

This power affects our right to freedom of assembly but pursues a legitimate aim that is necessary and proportionate to the threat posed by coronavirus.

However, there are concerns that the Act lacks safeguards to protect industrial action, which could be likely given the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.

The Act also grants police, immigration officers and health officials powers to detain “potentially infectious” persons.

These powers further interfere with the rights to liberty and assembly. However, they are limited to the legitimate aim of controlling coronavirus. The legislation states that restrictions must be necessary and proportionate, and must take into account that person’s well-being and personal circumstances.

Due to this balancing act and requirements of necessity and proportionality, the restrictions on an individual’s rights are likely to be valid.

Thursday 26th March 2020

The police’s new enforcement powers come into effect following Johnson’s announcement of a nationwide lockdown on 23 March.

The legal basis for the police’s strengthened powers is the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.

People are no longer allowed to leave their home without reasonable excuse. This is, in effect, a form of house arrest. It means that we are only supposed to leave our homes for limited reasons. The four most common reasons are:

• Shopping for necessities like food and medicine
• Taking exercise – but only once a day
• For medical reasons, to provide care or help to vulnerable persons
• For essential work (list here), and non-essential work where working from home is not possible.

Also banned are public gatherings of more than two people – with those found in breach facing a fine of £30 in the first instance. There are even fewer permitted reasons to gather than there are to leave your house.

 

Skip forward three months to when the festival would have been on... more PR releases were cleverly released by the Festival organisers...

Thursday 25th June 2020

The Mirror

Glastonbury Festival future uncertain as Michael Eavis warns event could go 'bankrupt'

The festival's organiser Michael Eavis said it 'could be curtains' for Glastonbury Festival if they can't return in 2021

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/glastonbury-festival-future-uncertain-michael-22253507

Saturday 27th June 2020

Daily Mail

Emily Eavis Says Glastonbury Festival will bounce back.

"We paid everyone up to the point they stopped working and some we furloughed."

"Ms Eavis lamented the loss of income to the hundreds of individuals and businesses usually employed by the festival."

...

"It was on March 18 it became apparent that the pandemic was unstoppable and Glastonbury 2020 was cancelled."

"According to Ms Eavis, a mother-of-three, Glastonbury was given no specific advice in the lead-up to its cancellation."

"Every day following the daily news briefings, she spoke to her husband Nick, the festival's head of music programming, as to the odds the festival would go ahead."

"By the time the lockdown was announced she said they had come to the conclusion it would have to be cancelled and they made calls the next day,"

"...Glastonbury has built 50 affordable houses in the local area with a vast proportion of its profits going to Water Aid, Oxfam and Greenpeace."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8465591/Emily-Eavis-says-Glastonbury-bounce-despite-losing-millions-forced-cancel.html