News Round-Up
26 July 2024
Government Has Just Declared War on Free Speech
26 July 2024
by Toby Young
Is the way to influence the Government on vaccine passports to "make the Conservative Party fear for their jobs"? Would a sizable number of threats to vote for those against Covid ID in May shift the Party's stance?
We're publishing a guest post by Dr David McGroggan, Associate Professor of Law at Northumbria Law School, who is unconvinced by the Govt's claims that it can do nothing to stop employers introducing vaccine passports.
Keir Starmer is yet to decide whether to support ministers over the introduction of Covid passports and was "really angry" that an interview he gave to the Telegraph last week was headlined on his criticism of the idea.
Not so much a presser as a depresser: Boris Johnson says we'll need to continue wearing masks for another year, refuses to confirm lifting travel ban on May 17th and says vaccine passports are on the way.
The Government risks being defeated in the Commons over Covid vaccine passports, which MPs will be given a vote on before being introduced.
Michael Gove has asked readers of his article in the Telegraph to "keep sharing their views on the way ahead" regarding Covid vaccine passports. Judging from some of the top-rated comments, he may regret having asked!
Plans to force people to show vaccine passports when going to a pub or restaurant have been ditched. Proof of a Covid jab or test will, however, still be required when attending festivals and sports events.
Ministers are said to be "resigned" to the fact that vaccine passports could be used by companies to ban people who have not been vaccinated from working for them.
The Danish developers of a new Covid passport app say that its technology will cause a "domino effect" across Europe. The company is currently in talks with a number of European countries, possibly including the UK.
We're publishing a list of the 73 MPs and nine peers who have signed a pledge, promising to oppose vaccine passports. And what a coalition it is, with Jeremy Corbyn standing alongside Sir Iain Duncan Smith.
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