MP calls for Parliament vote on COVID domestic passports

This morning, South Lakes MP Tim Farron has written to the Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, calling for MPs to be able to debate and vote on plans for COVID domestic passports as soon as Parliament returns next week.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that the Government will be pushing ahead with trials for vaccine passports - a move which Tim has labelled "divisive, illiberal and completely unnecessary".

Tim argues that with the uptake rate of people getting vaccinated so high, there is very little reason to impose COVID passports.

A poll published today from IPSOS MORI found that the proportion of adults who say they would not be likely to take a vaccine has more than halved in the four months from December 2020 to March 2021 - from 14%-6%.

The research also found than 9 in 10 (91%) people feel that it is their "social responsibility" to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Writing to the Leader of the House about the introduction of COVID passports, Tim said: "I strongly believe that such a move will be deeply divisive, illiberal and completely unnecessary. I know this feeling is shared by many colleagues across the House.

"The uptake in people getting the vaccine has been phenomenal and so there is simply no need for the Government to be so heavy handed with the remaining age groups who are yet to be offered a vaccine.

"We know that when people are called up, they go and get their vaccine because they see it as their social responsibility - that's the best way of moving forward as a country.

"Therefore I'm writing to you to urge you to make time available to debate this matter as soon as Parliament returns next week and also to hold a vote on these plans before the Government seek to plough ahead with them."