Summer of fun faces ruin if ‘ministers don’t introduce government-backed Covid insurance’

Ministers risk ruining Brits “summer of fun” if they don’t introduce a government-backed Covid insurance scheme for live events.

Campaigners and MPs are calling for a parachute package to be out in place to help organisers in the event of a covid outbreak scuppering festivals, gigs or large sporting events.

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Events like the Great North Run are under threat without the insurance according to the Let LIVE Thrive campaign.

Tory MP Julian Knight said: “It is utterly pointless to spend a king’s ransom on furlough and the culture recovery fund yet not to put the one piece of the jigsaw in place – namely COVID-19 insurance – and scupper what could be a festival and live events season which could lift all our spirits.

“I respectfully say to the Secretary of State and the Chancellor – who is the real roadblock – that we are in danger of having a summer of none rather than a summer of fun.”

The Great North Run’s Chairman, former Olympian Sir Brendan Foster said: “Insurance is a central aspect of our planning every year.

“Live events need the government to step in, put these structures in place and give us the security we require.”