Boris gives the green light for virus passports
But MPs call for debate on ‘authoritarian’ plans
Vaccine passports are ‘likely to become a feature of our lives’, the Government said last night, as Boris Johnson gave the green light for the plans.
Despite a mounting political backlash, the Prime Minister said it was ‘sensible’ to look at whether a ‘covid status certification scheme’ could play a role in easing the lockdown this summer.
a new Government report on the issue stated that vaccine passports are ‘likely to become a feature of our lives until the threat from the pandemic recedes’.
The 12-page document said proof of covid status was certain to be required for international travel and likely to be needed to get crowds back into stadiums, concert venues and theatres.
But it also suggested that schemes could be introduced in pubs and restaurants in return for ‘reduced social distancing requirements’. The move put the Government on collision course with MPs and sections of the hospitality industry opposed to the idea.
at a press conference in Downing Street last night, the Prime Minister refused to guarantee MPs a vote on the scheme, saying only that it would be ‘put to parliament’ if necessary.
Plans for vaccine passports – which were once rejected by the Government as ‘discriminatory’ – have sparked a huge cross-party backlash.
Some 72 MPs have signed a pledge to oppose them, including more than 40 Tories – enough to wipe out the Government’s majority.
Former Tory chief whip Mark Harper last night warned the scheme would create a ‘two-tier Britain’ and said it was vital that MPs had the final say.
Mr Harper, chairman of the 70-strong covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs,
Phone app: A digital health passport said: ‘Trying to introduce these domestic vaccine passports by the back door by linking them to removing social distancing rules just won’t be acceptable.
‘it is crucial MPs are allowed a vote on this. Whether the state legislates for it, recommends it or simply allows it, covid Status certification will lead to a two-tier Britain and these issues need debating thoroughly and carefully before we allow them to affect the lives of our constituents.’ Former minister Steve Baker described the plan as ‘authoritarian and illogical’.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, branded the proposal ‘intrusive, costly and unnecessary’.
Labour also hardened its position against the idea, but stopped short of committing to vote it down.
The party’s cabinet Office spokesman Rachel Reeves said Labour had ‘many reservations’ about the initiative, adding: ‘We have an amazing takeup of the vaccine, it is being rolled out incredibly successfully by the nHS – it is not totally clear to me that we need a sledgehammer to crack a nut here.’
Shadow health spokesman Jonathan ashworth said: ‘They are effectively trying to force people into taking a vaccine and i think in the end that will be counterproductive.’ The Prime Minister last night acknowledged there were ‘complicated ethical and practical issues’ involved in any covid certification scheme, not least because some people cannot have the vaccine.
He said any system would also allow people to show they had recently tested negative for covid or that they’d had the virus in the previous six months and were therefore likely to have immunity.
in an interim report yesterday, the Government ruled out allowing them for essential services such as supermarkets, public transport and GP surgeries, but said it would not stand in the way of businesses that want to bring them in.
The review found that covid certification ‘could have an important role to
‘It will lead to a two-tier Britain’ ‘Intrusive, costly and unnecessary’
play both domestically and internationally, as a temporary measure’.
it said that businesses are already able ‘to ask customers for proof of covid status in order to access their premises, as long as they are compliant with equalities legislation’.
The report added: ‘The Government believes that introducing a ban on this would in most cases be an unjustified intrusion on how businesses choose to make their premises safe.’ The PM last night said pubs and restaurants would not need to introduce vaccine passport schemes when they reopen next week or when they first permit customers indoors, probably on May 17.
But the review suggests they could ‘play a role in reducing social distancing requirements’ later in the summer. The document confirmed the nHS is already working on both digital and paper systems for the scheme.
Danny altmann, professor of immunology at imperial college London, said that while vaccine passports might make people feel ‘a bit safer’ they would need ‘ enormous scrutiny’. He added: ‘The detail is an absolute nightmare.’