Are ministers having second thoughts about introducing vaccine passports at nightclubs and other ‘large venues’ – or has the rhetoric always been empty, intended only to scare people into getting ‘jabbed’? A report in the i suggests that at least one of these scenarios could be true, especially following recent criticism of the Government’s proposals by Tory MPs, with one former minister saying that vaccine passports are likely to be ditched because Boris Johnson “hates the idea”.
Serious doubts have emerged over the policy, with officials now looking at whether case rates will require such measures.
A Whitehall source said “no decisions have been made yet” on the proposals, despite the Government insisting that the passes will be mandatory from the end of the month.
The source added that the Government was “watching the data and seeing what’s needed”, adding that it was up in the air as to whether the measures will be introduced.
It is understood, however, that infection rates would need to fall significantly for the Government to change its stance.
A Tory former minister told i they also suspected vaccine passports could be ditched, adding that Boris Johnson “hates the idea” and was just threatening their introduction to encourage young people to get jabbed.
It comes after the Vaccines Minister sparked a furious response from his own backbenchers when he said the Government was pressing on with the policy even though it “goes against everything I believe in”. …
Tory MPs lined up to attack the plans in the Commons, with former Chief Whip Mark Harper demanding the Government drop the proposals. …
A separate cabinet source said the Government’s position remained unchanged, adding: “We are still working through the details and criteria of how it would apply.”
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