Publicans blast jab passport plan
BORIS JOHNSON sought to calm fears over the possible introduction of coronavirus health certificates in England as publicans criticised plans which could see landlords demanding to see drinkers’ papers before letting them have a pint.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the “moral complexities” around a domestic vaccine passport scheme and suggested that it might only be possible to introduce one after all adults had been offered a vaccine at the end of July. The Welsh Government would have to make a separate decision for pubs in Wales.
The UK Government will say more on the possible use of Covid status certificates in early April, and suggested they could also be based on whether individuals have developed antibodies through infection, as well as vaccinations and negative tests.
But landlords rejected their use after his earlier suggestion it could be up to them to decide whether to screen customers’ certificates on entry, ahead of fresh details emerging of a possible incentive for pubs to adopt the measure.
Mr Johnson defended his credentials as a “freedom lover” as Tory MPs criticised the Government’s “oppressive” and “draconian” coronavirus legislation.
Measures to implement Mr Johnson’s “road map” out of lockdown, which will see England’s restrictions eased in a series of stages over the coming months, were passed without a vote. But a series of Tory MPs refused to back a six-month extension to wide-ranging emergency powers contained in the Coronavirus Act after Health Secretary Matt Hancock was unable to say whether they would definitely expire after that. Some 76 MPs voted to oppose the extension of the laws, although the measure passed with a majority of 408.
Former minister Sir Desmond Swayne warned that the renewal of emergency coronavirus powers could lead to “total social control” and criticised the “oppressive legislation”.
Sir Graham Bracy, chairman of the influential backbench 1922 Committee, said: “The danger is the Government starts to believe that these fundamental civil liberties belong to ministers to grant to us or withhold.”
The boss of the Shepherd Neame brewery and pub chain said making jabs mandatory for entry to pubs is a “fairly poorly thought-out idea”, as trade bodies suggested the idea was “simply unworkable”.
Mr Johnson insisted “no decisions have been taken at all”, saying that there will be an update on the review into their possible use on either April 5 or 12, and said that “whatever happens” the April 12 reopening of pub gardens will be unaffected.
A Whitehall source said that landlords may be able to scrap social distancing if they check Covid health certificates on entry, in a move that would allow them to operate at much higher capacity. Under suggestions being considered, those who do not want to enforce the checks would be allowed to reopen but would have to ensure social distancing is maintained.