Inside Politics: Tory MPs demand Boris Johnson grants ‘crucial’ vote on vaccine passports

How long is too long without real change? Russian president Vladimir Putin has now signed a law which lets him to hold onto power until 2036. The autocrat, who has already been power for more than two decades, said it would stop his underlings “darting their eyes” in search of successors. No-one is accusing of Boris Johnson of being an autocrat. But there are a lot of darting eyebrows about just how long his Covid rules will have to last. No 10 has said vaccine passports are “likely to become a feature of our lives” – angering backbenchers who fear the PM could back out of a promise to let them vote on it.

Inside the bubble

Chief political commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for today:

Parliament still in recess, but politics is still happening, especially in Scotland, where Alex Salmond will be launching his new Alba party’s policies. There are also a couple of releases from the Office of National Statistics today: one on internet use last year, and the delayed report on the social impacts of coronavirus.

Daily briefing

EXPECTING TO FLY: Boris Johnson has said getting back to normal may “take a while”, but assured the nation that pubs and restaurants can reopen outside across England as expected next Monday, along with non-essential shops and hairdressers. The PM was far more cautious over international travel – saying he was “hopeful” it could resume on 17 May, but did not want to “underestimate” the difficulties. The government has advised people not to book summer holidays abroad “until the picture is clearer”, admitting that the expected resumption of foreign holidays could be pushed back beyond 17 May. Travel industry chiefs are gutted. The British Travel Association said the news was “beyond disappointing” and demanded ministers provide a “clear pathway”. The government review also made clear vaccine passports are “likely to become a feature of our lives” until the pandemic is over. It said any attempt to try to ban businesses being able to ask customers for proof of Covid status would be unjustified.

THE NEVERENDING STORY: Tory backbenchers fear the government is trying to sneak vaccine passports in without giving parliament a say. Mark Harper, chair of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG), said it was “crucial” that MPs are allowed to vote on the issue – claiming Michael Gove had promised them a vote. “Trying to introduce these domestic vaccine passports by the back door by linking them to removing social distancing rules just won’t be acceptable,” he added. Iain Duncan-Smith said we were headed for a “demi-lockdown” after the vaccine rollout is over – accusing government scientists of using “Project Fear” tactics to force endless restrictions. But vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told Times Radio on Tuesday morning that MPs will be able to vote on the use of domestic vaccine passports. “If we do get to that place, then of course we will go to parliament for a vote.” Labour’s shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth claimed vaccine passports could be “counterproductive”, while Imperial College London professor Danny Altmann said putting any certification rules into law would be a “nightmare” in practice.

DIM UP NORTH: Keir Starmer’s hopes of clinging on to Labour’s seat in Hartlepool appear to be dimming. A new Survation poll puts the Tories on course for a decisive victory at the by-election next month. Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer is on 49 per cent – seven points ahead of Labour candidate Dr Paul Williams. It’s prompted more gnashing of teeth from the Labour left. Communication Workers Union (CWU) Dave Ward claimed the Labour leadership had left the working-class base “shrugging its shoulders and asking, ‘Who are you then?’” He added: “Working people want the real thing ... politicians that have a moral backbone.” It comes as Starmer offered a fulsome apology for visiting a church criticised for its less-than-progressive stance towards homosexuality. The Labour leader said he “completely” disagreed with Jesus House in London’s views on LGBT+ rights and had not been aware of them before his visit. “I apologise for the hurt my visit caused and have taken down the video. It was a mistake and I accept that.”

SNOUTS IN THE TROUGH? The government is facing a legal challenge over claims it funnelled cash to Tory areas with its “levelling up” fund. The leafy shire constituencies of Rishi Sunak and Robert Jenrick are among areas to benefit from an unusual funding formula, with critics claiming it amounts to “pork-parallel politics”. Legal campaigners at the Good Law Project contend that the design of the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund is unlawful. Forty out of the first 45 schemes approved had at least one Conservative MP. The Good Law Project’s Jolyon Maugham said: “If you think that it’s coincidence that Tory marginals are huge beneficiaries, I have a fine bridge to sell you.” Elsewhere, some experts have criticised the idea of expanding the test and trace programme, after ministers set out plans for twice-weekly testing. Allyson Pollock, professor of public health at Newcastle University, called it a “scandalous waste of money,” arguing the programme had still not been evaluated properly.

NOTHING TO DECLARE BUT MY GENIUS: Alex Salmond will set out his party’s policies (which probably won’t be too interesting) and his “route to independence” (which might be) this afternoon. The Alba party leader will make what he grandiosely calls his “declaration for Scotland”, designed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath. Never let it be said that Salmond lack chutzpah. It comes as two former SNP city council provosts have defected to the Alba Party – with one, Hamish Vernal, warning the SNP to “lay off the negative personal attacks”. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has had to backtrack on a promise that Boris Johnson would visit Scotland during the election campaign. He conceded the PM might only take part “virtually”. Ross also insisted he has not been side-lined after it emerged that the party’s leader at Holyrood, Ruth Davidson, will spearhead a push to stop the SNP getting a majority. Davidson will be the “key voice” in a drive to persuade unionists to use their regional list vote tactically.

OPEN DOORS? The government is pushing back against claims it has been too lax on foreign tourists coming into the UK despite Covid travel curbs. Border Force officials had told The Times that around 8,000 or so people arriving each day are tourists. Health minister Edward Argar and Home Office minister Kevin Foster said they simply didn’t recognise the figures. Labour MP Yvette Cooper doesn’t think it amounts to much of a denial. Cooper, chair of the home affairs select committee, said the findings raised “serious concerns” and urged the Home Office to “urgently respond” by publishing all its figures on arrivals. Lucy Moreton, an officer of the ISU immigration and borders union, told The Telegraph that up to 50 per cent of non-UK arrivals at some airports were for visits to family or friends – in violation of the rules. Dr Gabriel Scally, a member of the Independent Sage group, said the quarantine system “looks like another botched attempt to convince people we’re handling the virus properly.”

On the record

“It is crucial MPs are allowed a vote on this, as Michael Gove promised last week.”

Tory MP Mark Harper on getting a vote on vaccine passports.

From the Twitterati

“Boris Johnson is currently using his Covid press conference to criticise Sadiq Khan ahead of the London mayoral elections. Not sure that seems particularly fair.”

ITV’s Paul Brand on the PM’s use of Covid conference…

“The more Johnson attacks Khan the better Khan will do. Johnson not popular in the capital.”

…but Labour activist Matt Dean welcomes the move.

Essential reading

Andrea Carlo, The Independent: A message to Brits forced home: this is the Brexit you voted for

Sean O’Grady, the Independent: If you won’t carry a vaccine passport, do us a favour and stay at home

Anoosh Chakelian, New Statesman: Offices are the hidden gap in Boris Johnson’s pandemic response

Graeme Wood, The Atlantic: A black army rises to fight the racist right

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