Five Tory MPs – and one Baronness in the Lords – have declared that they will not be attending the Conservative Party Conference in October if vaccine passports are a condition for entry.
Mark Jenkinson, Steve Baker, Chris Green, Peter Bone, Andrew Bridgen and Baronness Morrissey – have joined together in raising the possibility of a boycott if passports go ahead. Jenkinson tweeted that he is double jabbed – as, presumably, are the other rebels. They would be able to attend, but are opposing on principle. Baker also said he was booked to go to conference but, with a ‘heavy heart, and apologies to event organisers’ also said he would give conference a pass. So did Helena Morrissey, City financier and mother of nine, who tweeted that the same applied to her.
The Tory threat comes after the latest news from Nadhim Zahawi, vaccines minister, who told the House of Commons today that it is more than likely that vaccine passports showing immunisation status will be needed for all large gatherings: from church services to football matches.
It’s interesting to note that Zahawi chose to make the statement on the day before parliament rises for the summer recess. Can’t think why. While it’s good to see Tory MPs taking a principled stand over the government’s latest madness, one wonders why they felt compelled to do so when the passport plans were extended beyond nightclubs. Did none of them fancy a mid-conference night out on the town? Perhaps that’s one boycott that has already long been in place …
