Boris Johnson is right to ditch controversial Covid vaccine passport plans for pubs

NEEDING to show a vaccine passport to get in the pub has always been a dodgy idea. Britain’s beleaguered boozers need more red tape like a hole in the head. So it’s great news that Brits won’t require more bureaucracy to buy a pint or a meal when we get the go-ahead in just eight […]

NEEDING to show a vaccine passport to get in the pub has always been a dodgy idea.

Britain’s beleaguered boozers need more red tape like a hole in the head.

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Boris Johnson was right to ditch controversial plans for customers to show a vaccine passport to visit a pub[/caption]

PA

It’s great news that Brits won’t require more bureaucracy to buy a pint or a meal when we get the go-ahead in just eight days[/caption]

So it’s great news that Brits won’t require more bureaucracy to buy a pint or a meal when we get the go-ahead in just eight days.

Boris Johnson was right to ditch this controversial non-starter.

On the other hand, requiring some form of certification for big events like football matches or pop concerts is still on the horizon.

It seems reasonable that Brits flocking to packed stadiums or clubs should have to show they are Covid-free.

But this plan raises some thorny issues for the PM.

Many of those who want to attend such events will be under 30 and may not have even been offered jabs by then.

So to get in they may need proof of natural immunity or provide a negative lateral flow test result.

Both options are fraught with difficulty for mass events and open to abuse.

The Government must obviously look at all the options if we are to end the lockdown speedily and safely.

But Boris will have a lot of big questions to answer before Covid vaccine passports become a reality.

At the moment the plan has more loose ends than a bowl of spaghetti.

Economy’s flight risk

IT’S hard to argue with leading airlines’ warning that our whole economy will suffer unless more flights can resume soon.

The lockdown figures are stark: Britain lost nearly £25billion last year alone because tourists couldn’t come here — that’s almost £70million a day

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Britain’s economy lost nearly £25billion last year because tourists couldn’t visit — that’s almost £70million a day[/caption]

Tourist takings are predicted to bounce back to £6.6billion this year — but that is still only about a fifth of the 2019 total.

As a global hub we have to be open for business right across the world — with as many routes opened as is safe.

Our economy will not fully take off until our jets do.

Keir’s year to forget

SIR KEIR STARMER is not Jeremy Corbyn.

But after 12 months of leading the Labour Party, that seems to be the only thing he has going for him.

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Kate Green may give Sir Keir’s performance in office 10/10 but few others would[/caption]

Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green may give his performance 10/10 but few others would.

He has no presence in the Commons, no future strategy, no idea what he stands for and is behind in the polls.

Apart from that he has had a great year.