Covid Pass Starts in England Despite Biggest Rebellion of Johnson Era

Adults in England must now show a Covid pass to enter nightclubs, big sports matches and other large events – despite nearly 100 Conservative MPs voting against the government’s plans.

The new rules – which kick in today – require proof of double-vaccination, or a recent negative test, to enter certain venues.

MPs approved the measure in Tuesday’s vote on England’s new Covid rules.

Despite the revolt by 99 Tory MPs, the plans passed thanks to Labour support.

The Commons also backed – with smaller Conservative rebellions – the continuation of mandatory mask-wearing in most indoor settings, and compulsory vaccination for NHS workers in England.

The scrapping of self-isolation for fully vaccinated Covid contacts – in favour of daily lateral flow tests – passed unanimously without a vote.

The rebellion on Covid passes was by far the biggest since Boris Johnson took office.

Mr Johnson will face MPs at noon for Prime Minister’s Questions, with some in his party raising questions about his authority.

But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the public response to the prime minister’s plea to get booster jabs, with long queues at many centres, showed Boris Johnson’s “leadership”.

He told BBC Breakfast he hoped there would be no need for further Covid measures. “We’ve got in place now the measures that we believe will see us through to the new year,” he said.

If there did turn out to be a need for additional restrictions, he was “certain” Parliament would be recalled, Mr Shapps said.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a “very significant blow to the already damaged authority of the prime minister”.

“It confirms that he’s too weak to discharge the basic functions of government,” he claimed.

One Tory rebel, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said the scale of the revolt meant a leadership challenge to Mr Johnson had “got to be on the cards” next year.

And former Tory chief whip, Mark Harper MP, said: “You either listen and you respond and you do things differently – or you ignore what you have been told and you plough on regardless, and then this will happen over and over again.”

But former cabinet minister Damian Green, who also rebelled, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that for him it was “absolutely not” a vote demonstrating a lack of confidence in Boris Johnson, adding that he would vote for tougher measures if he believed they would be effective.

The spread of the Omicron variant has prompted long queues for booster vaccinations and pressures on supplies lateral flow and PCR tests, although the government insists it has enough stockpiled.

West End shows have scrapped performances due to outbreaks, Premier League matches have been postponed and pubs and restaurants report a wave of Christmas bookings being cancelled.

On Tuesday, England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty warned senior ministers that hospitals were facing a significant increase in the number of people being admitted.

Speaking at the same virtual cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of a “huge spike” of infections – but Downing Street has insisted no further Covid restrictions are being planned.

Prof Graham Medley from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there was a “very real possibility” of the NHS being overwhelmed if Omicron infections spread to older age groups, as experience suggested they would.

Although vaccination and immunity through prior infections are higher now, reducing the risk to many individuals, the numbers in hospital could still get “very large”, perhaps up to 2,000 a day, he suggested.

On Tuesday, the UK recorded 59,610 new Covid cases, the highest number since January, along with 150 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test.

The UK Health Security Agency said 633 further UK Omicron cases were reported on Tuesday, taking the total number of confirmed cases of the variant to 5,346. But the agency’s modelling suggests the real figure may be much higher.

Meanwhile, a total of 513,722 booster and third doses were given across the UK on Monday.

In Scotland have been urged to limit socialising to three households at a time, with shops and hospitality venues to be told to reinstate physical distancing and protective screens.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the advice would not apply on Christmas Day and that plans should not be cancelled.

BBC

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