Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin has said that vaccine passports would be the ‘last straw’ for struggling bars and pubs.
The chain boss, who owns The Ernehale in Arnold and Free Man in Carlton, said the introduction of a passport would force pub staff into a ‘bitter civil liberties war’ with customers.
Conservative backbenchers, the hospitality industry and some scientists have raised concerns over the possible introduction of coronavirus health certificates as England’s lockdown is eased.
Ministers are studying their potential use, which could see access to venues granted only if customers have been vaccinated, received negative tests, or developed antibodies through past infection.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden argued on Sunday (March 28) vaccine passports will not be introduced on a “permanent basis” but they could be a beneficial tool to restart safely in the short-term.
But, writing in the Telegraph, Martin said “there is no justification for a passport system”.
“For many pubs, hanging on for dear life and devastated by G-force changes of direction, a complex and controversial passport scheme would be the last straw. It would inevitably put pub staff in the frontline of a bitter civil liberties war, with some customers unwilling to be vaccinated or unable to have a jab for medical reasons.”
Dowden discussed plans in more detail on the The Andrew Marr Show yesterday (March 28) on BBC One:
“Of course we would never look to do this on a permanent basis, it’s just whether it might be a tool in the short term.”
