Liberal Democrats call for vote on COVID ID cards

The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the government guarantee a vote on Covid ID cards.

This announcement comes after a government consultation paper released yesterday said the government would “seek to provide a vote in Parliament” before bringing them into force did not guarantee one.

Health secretary Sajid Javid said earlier this month that while there is “no single trigger”, England’s ‘Plan B’ will be enacted if the data suggests the NHS is likely to come under “unsustainable pressure”. This scenario would entail the use of vaccine passports.

The paper suggests that ministers could introduce the controversial measure through a Public Health Statutory Instrument, which allow the proposal to be passed with minimal Parliamentary scrutiny.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Covid ID cards have become this Government’s zombie proposal. Every time we think we’ve killed it, it keeps coming back even worse than before.

“Ministers have already wasted millions on this pointless scheme, and are now wasting even more on a consultation.

“The Government must give Parliament a vote on these unworkable and unnecessary plans now, so we can bury them for good.”