Dominic Raab says ‘vaccine passports’ COULD be needed to get into pubs or supermarkets in the UK despite the government insisting they will only be used for foreign travel
- Dominic Raab said ‘vaccine passports’ for use within UK ‘under consideration’
- Government previously insisted that any system would be for for foreign travel
- Asked if proof of jab could be needed to go into supermarket, said not ‘ruled out’
The government was facing more confusion over ‘vaccine passports’ today after Dominic Raab suggested they could be needed to get into pubs and supermarkets in the UK.
The Foreign Secretary appeared to contradict a series of other government statements as he said the idea was ‘under consideration’.
The comments risked provoking anger from Tories who are already deeply alarmed about the way the pandemic has hammered civil liberties.
Aides scrambled to clarify that Mr Raab had been responding to a ‘hypothetical’ question and while ‘vaccine passports’ are being looked at for international travel, they are ‘not being considered domestically’.
Ministers have revealed that work is under way on a system that could allow foreign travel to resume, with Spain the latest country to say it is ready to welcome Brits who have had jabs.
But the government has repeatedly said such documents will not be introduced in the UK, suggesting it would be ‘discriminatory’. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said just last week that the move is ‘not on the cards’.
The dramatically different position from Mr Raab came in an interview on LBC radio this morning.
Dominic Raab contradicted a series of other government statements as he said the idea was ‘under consideration’
Pressed repeatedly on whether ‘vaccine passports’ could be needed to get into pubs and supermarkets in this country, he said: ‘It is something that hasn’t been ruled out. It is under consideration. But of course you’ve got to make it workable.’
Mr Raab said the ‘modalities and mechanisms’ of how people could prove they have been vaccinated were all being looked at.
‘You’ve got to know that the document that is being presented is something that you can rely on,’ he said.
The comments came amid claims major City firms are expecting to start using digital health passports from next month to help get staff back to offices.
Covid-19 testing firm Prenetics has signed deals with around 100 companies – including investment banks based at Canary Wharf in London – to help get staff back to work safely.
Employees using its Digital Health Passport will download an app onto their mobile phone, which will store results of their Covid tests and vaccine certificates when they have had their jabs.
Meanwhile, Spain’s tourism minister has fuelled hopes Britons could go on holiday this summer with ‘vaccine passports’.
Fernando Valdes has reportedly raised the prospect that travel could resume within months due to the success of the UK’s rollout.
He also played down the idea that holidaymakers would have to quarantine when they arrived in Spain, saying there are ‘other means’ of limiting spread.
The optimistic comments emerged as the government steps up work on a system of ‘vaccine passports’ that could free those who have had jabs from the draconian restrictions on travel.
UK ministers have refused to be drawn on when holidays might be back on the agenda, amid mixed messages on whether anyone should be looking to book at this stage.
Spain’s tourism minister has fuelled hopes Britons could go on holiday this summer with ‘vaccine passports’. Pictured, Playa de Alcudia beach in Mallorca