A review into whether coronavirus certificates should be introduced to help with the reopening of society after lockdown is currently underway. The report is due to be published within the next 10 days and could force Brits to show proof of a jab, a negative test, or anti-body immunity, before they are allowed access to venues such as pubs, theatres and sports stadiums.
Last month Mr Johnson ruled out the measure, saying: “What I don’t think we will have in this country is – as it were – vaccination passports to allow you to go to, say, the pub or something like that.”
However, he then launched a review into the proposals and on Wednesday he went even further, giving the clearest sign yet a vaccine passport system was set to be introduced.
He told the liaison committee of MPs it “may be up to individual publicans” whether to enforce a jab certificate system.
The remarks sparked outrage among Tory MPs, who fear such a system would lead to “a checkpoint society, under extreme police powers”.
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Last night, Steve Baker, the deputy leader of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) of lockdown-sceptic MPs, hinted he was already working on a plan to thwart a passporting system.
“It’s a million-to-one chance but it just might work,” he told Politico.
Mr Baker was one of the most important members of the Brexit campaign, taking a leading role in organising Tory MPs.
He was also one of the orchestrators behind the failed attempt to oust Theresa May from No10 in a confidence vote in December 2018.
In January, a leaked letter sent by Mr Baker to CRG members indicated he was also willing to launch a confidence vote against Mr Johnson if he did not curb his coronavirus lockdown measures.
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s comments to the liaison committee, the senior backbencher said: “The Prime Minister began to tread a dangerous path when he opened the door to domestic Covid certificates.
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“First they said we’ll need them to watch the football, and today that it may be papers for the pub.
“Whether the state legislates for it, recommends it or simply allows it the result will be the same: a two-tier Britain that prevents pregnant women from taking part in society, given that the Government is telling them not to take the vaccine, or one where we turn back the clock and tolerate businesses turning away customers from communities which have shown an unfortunate hesitancy to take up the offer of a vaccine.
“We must not fall into this ghastly trap.”
Housing minister Robert Jenrick this morning said there were no immediate plans for Covid certificates in the UK.
“We are considering a whole range of things and doing that very carefully.
“We are looking into the practical issues, the ethical concerns, and we are being guided by the best medical and scientific opinion,” he told Times Radio.
“We will be bringing forward the outcome of that work in the coming weeks.
“We don’t have an immediate plan to take action.”
