U.K. MULLS COVID PASSPORTS
PM Boris Johnson faces uphill battle as more than 70 MPs oppose vaccine certification
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson risks triggering a major backlash among members of the ruling Conservative Party if his United Kingdom government opts to use so-called Covid passports to help re-open the economy.
More than 70 members of parliament from three parties — including 41 from Johnson’s Tories — pledged to oppose the use of vaccine certificates, calling them “divisive and discriminatory”.
They include former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat Party leader Ed Davey.
“We oppose the divisive and discriminatory use of Covid status certification to deny individuals access to general services, businesses or jobs,” the pledge reads, according to a statement yesterday from civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch.
The pledge came as it emerged that the government is considering using Covid certification as part of trials to re-open large-scale events such as sports matches, concerts and conferences.
The opposition from across the political spectrum suggests the premier may struggle to get the measure through Parliament if he pursues it. The government is studying Covid certification as a means to bolster public confidence in returning to restaurants and entertainment venues, while also helping to keep coronavirus cases under control.
on Thursday reported that the government is set to trial passports demonstrating a person’s Covid status at sporting and cultural events within weeks. But a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that while such a policy is under consideration, no final decision has been taken, pending a review by the Cabinet Office over the feasibility of Covid certification.
The Cabinet Office report on certification is due for publication by June 21, though Johnson’s office has indicated interim findings are likely by April 5 — the same day the government is due to give an early indication on how foreign travel will re-open, something ministers have said won’t happen before May 17.
“There’s definitely going to be a world in which international travel will use vaccine passports,” Johnson told reporters on Thursday during a trip to northeast England. He also said proof of someone’s Covid status — whether it’s immunity from having had the disease or an inoculation, or a negative test — could be “useful” in reopening the domestic economy.
Johnson’s comments contrasted with those of Labour leader Keir Starmer, who told The Telegraph newspaper on Wednesday that using Covid passports for everyday social activities went against the British “instinct”.
Starmer said he would examine any proposals before deciding Labour’s stance. However, if the 41 Tories who signed yesterday’s pledge joined with all opposition MPs to vote against any measures on Covid certification, they would have the numbers to defeat the government.
Labour Member of the House of Lords Shami Chakrabarti called domestic Covid passports “an authoritarian step too far”.
Influential rank-and-file Conservative Graham Brady said: “We should aim to return to normal life, not to put permanent restrictions in place.”