I know, I know. Vaccine passports, again. Lately, it feels like every other article is focusing on this issue. It’s important though. This morning, multiple news sources are claiming that the scheme will be trialled at major sporting events within weeks.
The media is calling them “covid passports” this morning. It’s being claimed that plans are underway to test fans before and after several major sporting events including, an FA Cup semi-final and the World Snooker Championships. According to The Telegraph:
People going to the events will be asked to take a Covid test to gain entry and another after attendance so that any spreading of the virus can be monitored.
Government scientists are closely involved in designing the pilots and will watch everything from crowd flows to ventilation systems to learn lessons about running large events.
Multiple government sources involved in the planning told The Telegraph it was hoped that Covid passports – producing a certificate showing your virus status – will feature in some pilots.
Trials of the scheme will run in April and May and if the government is satisfied that they are successful, it could lead to the reopening of large events in Summer. 
Elsewhere, the BBC is reporting this morning that Jeremy Corbyn and Iain Duncan Smith are among more than 70 MP’s who are launching a scheme to oppose the introduction of vaccine passports. The BBC reports:
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and senior Tory Iain Duncan Smith are among more than 70 MPs to launch a campaign opposing Covid passports in England.
Any demand to prove vaccination status to access jobs, businesses or services would be “divisive and discriminatory”, the cross-party group said.
The group contains some unlikely allies, with many of Mr Corbyn’s former shadow cabinet joining the lockdown-sceptic Covid Research Group of Conservative MPs in backing the campaign.
Accusing the government of “creeping authoritarianism”, Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said: “As we start to get this virus properly under control we should start getting our freedoms back. Vaccine passports – essentially Covid ID cards – take us in the other direction.”
However, the Labour Party is likely to support the introduction of so-called “covid certification.” Yesterday, Keir Starmer said that such a scheme would be “un-British,” but then went on to say that he would wait and see the government’s plans, before deciding whether to support or oppose.
Cabinet secretary Michael Gove is heading up a review into vaccine passports. He will publish his recommendations next week.
