Passport plan faces blocks on both sides

BORIS JOHNSON faces a battle over possible plans to introduce vaccine passports that demonstrate the holder’s immunity to coronavirus.

A government review found ‘Covid status certification’ could ‘potentially play a role’ in entry to mass events, theatres and nightclubs, and could cut distancing in pubs and restaurants.

But the potential use of the certificates, which would include jab status, test results or evidence of recovering from the virus, is opposed by at least 40 Conservative MPs and faces ‘scepticism’ from Labour.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told Times Radio: ‘We haven’t even got to the stage where we have decided what we want to do on this domestically, because there are so many issues that do need careful consideration. But the prime minister made it very clear, if we do get to that place, then of course we will go to Parliament for a vote.’

However, Tory MP Mark Harper, chair of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group, said the certification ‘will lead to a two-tier Britain’.

Last night, Labour indicated that ‘on the basis of what we’ve seen we would oppose domestic vaccine passports’ – fearing they would burden businesses and taxpayers. Shadow health secretary

Jonathan Ashworth had previously told BBC Breakfast that Labour was ‘very sceptical’ about the proposal.

The interim findings of the review, led by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, said public transport and essential shops would not require jab passports.

But Mr Ashworth said: ‘I’m not going to support a policy that, if someone wants to go into Next or H&M, they have to produce a vaccination certificate on their phone, on an app. I think that’s discriminatory.’

It came after the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned more indoor mixing in May could see hospital admissions to rise to January’s levels.