As the government presses ahead with plans to introduce ‘Covid status certificates’ (AKA Covid passports) for domestic activities this summer, Labour is now scrambling to form a coherent position on the proposal and whether to back it in a parliamentary vote. Speaking on the Today Programme this morning, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said:
“We’ll need to be convinced. I cannot support a system where you have to present your vaccination ID card in order to get into H&M or Next […] I can understand why, for the FA Cup semi-final […] you’d want to test people before they go into an event like that.”
Ashworth even went so far as to call the plans ‘discriminatory‘ on BBC Breakfast – surely, one would think, a clear sign that Labour plans to oppose the measures…
Yet two weeks ago on Politics Live (17th March), when asked whether she supported vaccine passports, shadow sport minister Alison McGovern offered an unambiguous “yes” to the idea:
Likewise on The Andrew Marr Show last week, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said ‘there are positive prizes to be won from having a successful vaccine certification scheme’ and that he was prepared to participate ‘on a four-nation basis‘. Hardly discriminatory then…
Labour sources speaking to The Guardian added further to the confusion last night, saying although “there isn’t really a consensus yet”, they would still ultimately end up supporting the scheme “but probably not make much of a song and dance about it”. No wonder Starmer’s team was reportedly “really angry” that The Telegraph had inconvenienced the Labour leader by headlining his own criticisms of the scheme…
Always keen to see an MP at the end of a rope, Guido popped down to the annual parliamentary Tug of War last night (all proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support). Ladies first – Macmillan employees versus Therese Coffey’s team of MPs. Kelly Tolhurst chose the losing side again…
Then the men’s Lords v Commons bout, which saw well-built Remainiacs Alec Shelbrooke (his sixth tug of war appearance) trialling the phrase “Remain” instead of “Stay” as a rallying cry to team-mates. Though in the end it was the Leave heavers who made the difference – hardman captain Mike Penning and Eurosceptic musclemen Nigel Adams and David Burrowes tugged their team to victory. Even the Daily Politics’ Giles Dilnot turning out as a ringer for the Lords couldn’t stop them. Highlight was Bercow calling Shelbrooke “a very big bloke” – Shelbers replied “it’s all relative…”
Labour’s City spokesman Alison McGovern is receiving plenty of support after revealing a rather rude letter from a viewer accusing her of deeming it “necessary to demonstrate your cleavage on TV”.
A case of #EverydaySexism for sure, but this is not the first time Alison’s attire has caused consternation.
Attendees at the Shadow Treasury’s pre-Budget briefing with the IFS back in July claimed she “arrived late looking scruffy in a badly-fitting, too tight dress” and spent the meeting “yawning and texting on her phone”. It’s a sad day when Alison can’t convince her own colleagues to maintain eye contact either…
Unimpressed attendees at the Shadow Treasury’s pre-Budget briefing with the IFS report that it descended into shambles when its host, City spokesman Alison McGovern – cruelly nicknamed “Intern” by colleagues – “arrived late looking scruffy in a badly-fitting, too tight dress” and spent the meeting “yawning and texting on her phone”. “Didn’t give the best impression of the new Shadow Treasury team,” sighs one participant. “The incomptence…”
At least Alison put more effort into Labour’s briefing with another key economic powerhouse. Friends happily report she was “on time, engaged and happy to be there” at the Shadow Treasury’s next engagement, with Unite…
UPDATE: Another happy reader:
I deserve this. Wanting to scrutinise Tories on finance rather than girly issues. Like kittens.Or hopscotch maybe http://t.co/oEPLeUNAHG #fb
— Alison McGovern (@Alison_McGovern) July 8, 2015
Labour’s relationship with the City is dire, so dire in fact that they are starting at the bottom. From the Prawn Cocktail Offensive to making the tea…
Alison McGovern, formerly Gordon Brown’s PPS and now Labour’s spokesman for the City, is off on a listening exercise. She’s so keen to learn that she’s taking up an internship:
“Alison is also keen to do workplace shadowing with Labour in the City members, particularly those who work in front line financial services jobs. If you would like to offer this, please contact her office.”
Let’s hope it is a paid internship!
