By Tony O’Riley-
Sajid Javid’s U turn on covid passports as part of the government’s plan B measures, makes him hypocritical and highlights the unreliability of the Uk government when it comes to integrity.
The health secretary has been accused of “shifting the goalposts” by confirming that in the new year Covid passports would require proof of three jabs – not two – or a negative test- in the first sign of a departure from his original announcements.
Only a few months ago in September, Javid described the idea of mandatory vaccines as unethical and impractical, stating that we shouldn’t do things for the sake of it or because others are doing it.
Yet, this same Health Secretary told the Commons on Monday that people will only be considered ‘fully vaccinated’ once they have had their booster, and that three doses will be required for vaccine passports once all eligible adults in England have had ‘a reasonable chance’ to get the next jab.
The U turn is characteristic of this government, and continues to question the motive behind some of the steps it is taking.
About 80 Conservative backbenchers have already signalled their opposition to Covid certificates before Tuesday’s vote, though the pplan B measures are exoected to be passed due to the pledged support of labour.
Javid announced in parliament on Monday that to qualify for a Covid pass, people would need proof of a recent negative test result or three jabs, rather than two. He said the change would come into force “once all adults have had a reasonable chance to get their booster jab”.
The Health Secretary appears to have become a puppet for invincible forces, further discrediting an already damaged image of his party.
However, there is no evidence this will effectively tackle the omicron virus , which at the moment is believed to evade vaccines.
Even at the height of the NHS’s vaccine drive in March, the health service never managed more than 850,000 jabs a day.
Britons faced a five-hour queue for booster shots at St Thomas’ hospital in Westminster on Monday, after officials reportedly assigned only four staff members to rolling out the jabs. The hospital said everyone in the queue would get a vaccine.
There were reports of queues at vaccination centres dotted across the country, including in Kidlington, Belfast, Manchester and parts of London. Younger people were also turned away in the confusion as they tried to get booster jabs. Staff at the Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium allowed those in their 20s in while others were declined.
A government that continues to change its position and rules begins to see its credibility eroded faster than ever.
Despite Javid’s insistence that many of his own MPs were rallying against a “misleading description of what the government is proposing”, he was met by growing hostility.
Andrea Leadsom, a former cabinet minister, quoted a constituent who hit out at “intrusive and incoherent government regulations,” while one-time Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith admitted being “concerned about the mixed and heavy messaging coming from the government”.
Mark Harper, chair of the Covid Recovery Group, also said it was “not acceptable to keep governing this country by decree” and hit out at “late night television addresses” after Johnson’s statement on Sunday evening.
Javid stressed that plan B measures – which include working from home and more mask-wearing as well as Covid passports – were necessary because hospitalisations and deaths lag two weeks behind cases, and would “dramatically increase” in the run-up to the new year.
However, this publication has highlighted the inaccuracy of hospitalisation claims and death fears being spread by fearmongers who are misinforming the public of other factors relevant to putting hospitalization statistics into perspective.
Several Conservative MPs accused the government of moving the goalposts. One told the Guardian: “I think it’ll strengthen the resolve of some of the 80 opponents who are flaky, and win over more … It’s ridiculous, because there is no chance that everyone is going to get their booster by the end of this month – that’s just way out in the stratosphere as a concept.”
The MP said if at least 80 Tories rebelled on Tuesday, that would be Johnson’s effective Commons majority. They added: “These restrictions are the gateway drug to more serious restrictions down the line. I think we’ll be on plan X, Y or Z by Christmas.”
Another backbencher said “scare stories” about further restrictions beyond plan B had “actually had the opposite effect on rebels, who mainly see the reintroduction of restrictions as a slippery slope”.
From 6am on Wednesday, members of the British public will be required to show proof of two jabs or a negative lateral flow test in order to enter nightclubs and large venues. Under the new regulations, published barely 24 hours before tomorrow’s vote, people could be fined £10,000 if they try to falsify a Covid pass or test result.
Sir Keir Starmer announced he is supporting the Government’s new Covid crackdown as he urged people to ‘stick to the rules’ to help prevent the NHS from being ‘overwhelmed’ by Omicron;
The entire NHS England was put on the highest level of alert for the first time since March after the UK’s Omicron outbreak surged by 50 per cent in a day;
Among the growing number of Tory MPs who signalled that they would oppose some of the plan B measures were many of the 2019 intake. Those who declared their opposition on Monday included Tom Hunt, Robbie Moore and Shaun Bailey.
Labour will back all the plan B measures, meaning their approval is all but guaranteed. Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, accused the government of “rowing back on the target set yesterday” after Johnson said all adults would be able to get a booster by 31 December, while Javid said they would receive an “offer” by the end of the year to book their third jab
Sir Keir Starmer announced he is supporting the Government’s new Covid crackdown as he urged people to ‘stick to the rules’ to help prevent the NHS from being ‘overwhelmed’ by Omicron;
The entire NHS England was put on the highest level of alert for the first time since March after the UK’s Omicron outbreak surged by 50 per cent in a day.