Johnson defends approach to Covid passports in face of opposition

BORIS Johnson insisted that “all possibilities” will be examined to open up the economy as resistance mounted against proposals to introduce coronavirus health certificates.

Labour and the SNP have joined Tory rebels in ruling out backing the proposals as they stand.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called the current state of play on so-called vaccine passports a “complete mess” yesterday, warning that they could be a vast waste of taxpayers’ money when the focus should be on administering jabs.

He joined SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford in saying their opposition MPs would not back the plans in their current form if the Prime Minister put them to a Commons vote.

But the Prime Minister, on a visit to Cornwall, said it was a responsible approach for any government to “look at the possibility of making sure that we can continue to open up all sectors of the economy in a safe way down the rest of this year and, you know, we will look at all possibilities”.

He again stressed that Covid status certificates would not be introduced for either the April 12 or May 17 steps on the road map, which will see hospitality venues in England open outdoors initially and then indoors.

A Government review into “Covid status certification” said they could “potentially play a role” in settings such as theatres, nightclubs and mass events. The documents would record - either on an NHS app or a paper certificate - whether someone has had a vaccine, a recent negative coronavirus test or natural immunity having recovered from Covid-19.