New 'Covid Pass' rules come into force in England
From today, adults will need one to enter certain large venues
From today, adults in England must show a Covid pass to enter nightclubs, big sports matches and other large events.
People will have to show proof of being double-vaccinated or of a negative Covid test.
This applies to indoor events with 500 or more attendees where people are likely to stand or move around, such as music venues, outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees, such as music festivals, and any events with 10,000 or more attendees, whether indoor or outdoor, such as sports stadiums.
Well the government needed the help of Labour to get the new rules through, after Boris Johnson suffered the biggest rebellion of his premiership.
Some of his own backbenchers are now openly calling the Prime Minister's leadership into question.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the 1922 Committee, said the PM must now realise that he needs to consult MPs before bringing measures to the Commons, and that some members of the party would be thinking it was time for a change.
Speaking to Sky News, he said he was “very surprised” by the size of the rebellion, adding it “shows quite a major division within the party”.
He said: “I think now the Prime Minister’s really got to think very carefully about how he’s going to reset his performance, to actually govern with a united party because we will know what happens to disunited parties.”
Asked whether there was now the prospect of a leadership challenge in the new year if the PM did not change his approach, Sir Geoffrey said: “I think that’s got to be on the cards. He’s got to realise that he’s got to change.”
While Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a “very significant blow to the already damaged authority of the Prime Minister” who he said was now “too weak to discharge the basic functions of Government”.
He stopped short of explicitly calling for Mr Johnson to resign, but said: “The Prime Minister needs to take a long, hard look at himself and ask himself whether he has the authority to take this country through the pandemic.”
He added: “I think it’s very important to understand how deep the breach of trust is between the Prime Minister and his own party.”
Other measures under the Government’s Plan B also cleared the Commons, including to drop the requirement to isolate and instead do daily Covid tests for those fully vaccinated people who are contacts of a positive Covid case.
MPs also approved mandatory vaccinations for NHS and social care staff by April 2022 and the requirement to wear face coverings to more indoor spaces in England – including museums and galleries.
Published: by Radio NewsHub