KEIGHLEY and Ilkley’s MP, Robbie Moore has welcomed an announcement by Health Secretary Sajid Javid that there are currently no plans to use Vaccine Passports in England.

The announcement follows the publication of a major survey conducted by the MP across the constituency. The results from almost 2,000 local residents show that people are cautious about the use of Vaccine Passports, and there is only limited support for their use as a last resort.

Headline results from the survey show that:

• Overall, 57 per cent of people in Keighley and Ilkley Constituency are against the use of Vaccine Passports in any setting, compared to 41 per cent in favour.

• Almost two thirds of people surveyed (63 per cent) are opposed to vaccine passports for attending mass events, or for visiting pubs and restaurants.

• 80 pere cent of people surveyed are against vaccine passports for shopping, compared to 15 per cent in favour.

• Over 85 per cent of people are against the need for vaccine passports to meet others.

Keighley and Ilkley’s MP fed the results of the survey back to new Health Secretary Sajid Javid following his appointment in June.

On Sunday, the Health Secretary said that following a review of the evidence, there are no current plans to press ahead with vaccine passports, and the plans will be only kept in reserve.

Robbie Moore MP said: “Vaccine Passports have sparked a lot of debate. That’s why I asked local people what they thought, and I was delighted to receive so many responses to my survey.

“People across Keighley and Ilkley were clear – most people want vaccine passports only to be used as a last resort, and not in supermarkets, on public transport, or in the pub.

“I’ve fed this back to the Health Secretary and I am pleased he has now confirmed that there won’t be a need to press ahead with vaccine passports at present. I’ll always stand up for Keighley and Ilkley, and this shows the impact that lobbying hard can have on government policy”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I’ve never liked the idea of saying to people ‘you must show your papers’ to do what is just an everyday activity.

“Whilst we should keep it in reserve as a potential option, I am pleased to say that we will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports.”

This week the Prime Minister and Health Secretary also set out the government’s COVID Winter Plan, which outlined plans for booster jabs for millions starting from next week, and the biggest flu vaccination programme in history to ensure people have the strongest protection over winter.