Michael Gove has launched a campaign to persuade MPs to back a highly discriminatory domestic Covid passport scheme, the strongest indication yet that the government intends to press ahead with the plan.
MPs believe the scheme, under which venues such as pubs could be asked to see proof of vaccination or recent tests before allowing entry, could even be included in the Queen’s speech, making it more difficult for MPs to oppose.
Gove held a Zoom meeting on Monday with a number of opponents to the scheme, including the leaders of a lockdown sceptic group of Tory MPs, Mark Harper and Steve Baker, and the former cabinet minister David Davis, a longtime anti-ID card campaigner.
MPs who attended the meetings said Labour’s Hilary Benn and John Spellar who took part in the meeting appeared open to the plans, as did the SNP, though the Lib Dems’ chief whip Alistair Carmichael said his party would be completely against this.
Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, is seen by government insiders as a strong supporter of the scheme and has been taking evidence on the success of the Israeli “green pass” system. But officials and ministers are said to be divided between whether the certification should apply only to mass events, for which there is broad support, or additionally to smaller venues, which is more controversial.
The plan is to make the certification available on a modified NHS app, which would detail whether a person has had a vaccination, or a recent test, or has antibodies to the virus, having previously tested positive.
Officials have also taken evidence on the legal risks of the system, including whether it might contravene the European convention on human rights and what it might mean for employment rights.
Gove is undertaking a series of consultations on this that will involve the Tony Blair Institute with many saying that his involvement is an absolute disgrace considering his war crimes.
Lead Correspondent | David Clews is the Lead Correspondent for UNN, with over 20 years of political/campaigning experience and a wealth of social media and communication skills David gets to the heart of what is really important to the real people of the UK.
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