Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called the Government鈥檚 proposed 鈥淐ovid passport鈥 scheme 鈥渦nworkable鈥 and a drain on the taxpayer.
The Leader of the Opposition, to meet union bosses and businesses, said his party would not support plans to introduce Covid status checks for people entering venues once they are able to reopen.
The Tory Government wants to trial a certification scheme at some large-scale events, such as the FA Cup final, and said they could be used at theatres, nightclubs, festivals and allow social distancing to be relaxed in hospitality venues.
But the idea has already been pub and nightclub companies and now Mr Starmer said it wouldn鈥檛 be getting the backing of Labour.
He said a better way to reopen society, and protect the hospitality sector, would be to focus on the vaccine roll-out, and ensure statutory sick pay is at a higher level.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 support the Government鈥檚 current plans in relation to Covid passports,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think the Government really has a current plan on Covid passports. Only a few weeks ago they were saying you would need a passport to get into a pub, now they are saying 鈥榥o you won鈥檛鈥, one minute they are talking about vaccine passports, the next they are talking about tests or certificates.
鈥淭his has all the hallmarks of an unworkable project that will cost the taxpayer a huge amount of money,鈥 he said.
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鈥淎cross the South West it is hugely important we have safety, I have been here a number of times, I saw what happened to the tourist industry and hospitality last year here in the South West and know how anxious people are about it.
鈥淏ut the answer is to get as many people vaccinated as possible. That is actually the single most effective way of getting through this and that is where our focus should be along with filling the gap in our defences, which is the pay that is there for those asked to self-isolate.鈥
He added: 鈥淭he fact that statutory sick pay is so low, and the Government鈥檚 拢500 doesn鈥檛 cover most people, has left a gaping hole in our defences. We have been on to the Government about this for the best part of a year to close that gap.
鈥淪o focus on the bits we can fix, because that is the best way to make sure tourism and hospitality and the other sectors can open up across the South West, and I know from my discussions, not just this year but last year, just how important that it to everyone across the South West.鈥
Mr Starmer was in Plymouth ahead of the forthcoming local government elections, where Labour is defending its control of the city. He visited City College Plymouth and its developing Institute of Technology, at Oceansgate, in Devonport, which will form part of Plymouth鈥檚 freeport/freezone.
