Commons unlikely to support vaccine passport scheme as opposition hardens
BORIS Johnson faces a battle to introduce vaccine passports after running into fierce opposition from Tory critics and Labour.
A government review into “Covid status certification” found the passes could “potentially play a role” in settings such as theatres, nightclubs and mass events and might also be used in pubs and restaurants to reduce social distancing restrictions.
The prospect of having to show a certificate to access shops or bars has outraged members of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) of Conservatives, while Labour hit out at the “discriminatory” and “poorly thought-through” proposals. The use of certificates, which would include vaccination status, test results or evidence of someone having recovered from Covid-19, is opposed by at least 40 Conservative MPS.
With Labour’s opposition also hardening, the Government would face difficulties in getting the measures through the Commons if Mr Johnson pushed them to a vote.
Ministers have ruled out bringing in certification for either the April 12 or May 17 stages of the roadmap, but the documents — either in paper form or on an NHS app — could be introduced later this year.
Mr Johnson suggested that vaccination passports for overseas travel were “going to be a fact of life” because a lot of countries were looking at the possibility. On the domestic front, he indicated, “We are also going to look at the role of a number of signals that you can give that you are not contagious”, highlighting the role for mass testing.
“From Friday, everybody can get free lateral flow tests on the NHS and on the web — over the internet,” he said.
“I think that will also be very, very valuable in giving people confidence to open up.”
Former Tory minister Steve Baker, the deputy chairman of the CRG, said the requirement to show documents would be “un-british”.
The Government’s review suggested that if an official system is not introduced, firms would be able to ask customers for proof of Covid status in order to access their premises anyway.