Covid passports 'no brainer', says North Yorkshire MP
Kevin Hollinrake says they'd be a better option than businesses having to close.
Last updated 21st Jul 2021
Thirsk, Malton and Filey's MP has backed calls for Covid passports to be brought in to help support businesses.
Kevin Hollinrake has been speaking following the Government's plans for conditional entry to nightclubs in September - following two Covid jabs.
He told us:
"I've always said if you've got a choice between restrictions which put businesses out of business or Covid passports - I'd choose passports everyday.
"The reality is no one wants to see those things in place for years, but while we're still in a pandemic and don't know the shape of things to come we should use all possible precautions - while keeping the economy as open as possible.
"The situation on passports has always been that we'd take a watching brief on it and look at the evidence from around the world, and it would be foolhardy to say we know what's ahead in terms of the virus.
"If you have the vaccine you're not just protecting yourself - you're protecting others as well. We do have a responsibility to each other, and there are other mechanisms in terms of certification.
"For example, you can get a test - it doesn't necessarily rule people out from going into a venue on the basis that you haven't been vaccinated; just that you have to show the means of doing so.
"I was lucky enough to go to the Open Championship last weekend where there were 40,000 people; on the door you had to either show your vaccination status or you could take a test.
"Nobody complained - it was quite simple and straightforward, and there weren't any queues".