politicalite--2020-12-17--BORIS’ BRITAIN: Unicef Feeds British Kids For First Time in 70-Year-History

UNICEF is helping to feed hungry children in the UK as part of the charity ’ s first domestic emergency response in its 70-year history .
Some 1,800 families struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will receive breakfast boxes over the Christmas school holidays , the charity School Food Matters said .
The Food Power for Generation Covid initiative , in partnership with Sustain : the alliance for better food and farming , and the Southwark Food Power Alliance , has been made possible by a £25,000 grant from Unicef UK .
It represents the first time the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Unicef said the coronavirus pandemic is the most urgent crisis affecting children since the Second World War .
The families in Southwark , south London , will receive 18,000 breakfasts which will be distributed by schools for two weeks when they break up .
The programme will also provide 6,750 breakfasts to families over the February half-term break .
Anna Kettley , director of programmes at Unicef UK , said : “ This is Unicef ’ s first ever emergency response within the UK , introduced to tackle the unprecedented impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most in need .
“ The grant for School Food Matters will address the gap in current provision for children , providing approximately 1,800 children with breakfast bags during the Christmas holidays and February half term .
“ This funding will help build stronger communities as the impact of the pandemics worsen , but ultimately a longer-term solution is needed to tackle the root causes of food poverty , so no child is left to go hungry.
” School Food Matters founder Stephanie Slater said : “ The response to our summer Breakfast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are really struggling and many were facing the grim reality of a two-week winter break without access to free school meals and the indignity of having to rely on food banks to feed their children .
“ By providing our breakfast boxes , families know that their children will have a great start to the day with a healthy nutritious breakfast.
” The Prime Minister ’ s official spokesman said : “ We would point to the substantial action we ’ ve taken to ensure that children don ’ t go hungry through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the additional £16 million we pledged not too long ago to food distribution charities.
” Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said : “ The fact that Unicef is having to step in to feed our country ’ s hungry children is a disgrace and Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak should be ashamed .
“ We are one of the richest countries in the world .
Our children should not have to rely on humanitarian charities that are used to operating in war zones and in response to natural disasters .
“ Charities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brilliant job stepping in where the Government has failed , but it should have never come to this .
”

UNICEF is helping to feed hungry children in the UK as part of the charity’s first domestic emergency response in its 70-year history.
Some 1,800 families struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will receive breakfast boxes over the Christmas school holidays, the charity School Food Matters said.
The Food Power for Generation Covid initiative, in partnership with Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming, and the Southwark Food Power Alliance, has been made possible by a £25,000 grant from Unicef UK.
It represents the first time the organisation has developed a domestic emergency response.
Unicef said the coronavirus pandemic is the most urgent crisis affecting children since the Second World War.
The families in Southwark, south London, will receive 18,000 breakfasts which will be distributed by schools for two weeks when they break up.
The programme will also provide 6,750 breakfasts to families over the February half-term break.
Anna Kettley, director of programmes at Unicef UK, said: “This is Unicef’s first ever emergency response within the UK, introduced to tackle the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus crisis and reach the families most in need.
“The grant for School Food Matters will address the gap in current provision for children, providing approximately 1,800 children with breakfast bags during the Christmas holidays and February half term.
“This funding will help build stronger communities as the impact of the pandemics worsen, but ultimately a longer-term solution is needed to tackle the root causes of food poverty, so no child is left to go hungry.”
School Food Matters founder Stephanie Slater said: “The response to our summer Breakfast Boxes programme has shown us that families are really struggling and many were facing the grim reality of a two-week winter break without access to free school meals and the indignity of having to rely on food banks to feed their children.
“By providing our breakfast boxes, families know that their children will have a great start to the day with a healthy nutritious breakfast.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We would point to the substantial action we’ve taken to ensure that children don’t go hungry through the pandemic and I would point to the additional £16 million we pledged not too long ago to food distribution charities.”
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “The fact that Unicef is having to step in to feed our country’s hungry children is a disgrace and Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak should be ashamed.
“We are one of the richest countries in the world. Our children should not have to rely on humanitarian charities that are used to operating in war zones and in response to natural disasters.
“Charities and businesses across the country have done a brilliant job stepping in where the Government has failed, but it should have never come to this.”
Additional Reporting by PA Media


politicalite--2020-12-17--BREAKING: Greater Manchester ‘Expected to Stay in Tier 3’ Despite COVID Rates Falling

GREATER Manchester is expected to stay in Tier 3 with pubs and restaurants remaining closed , despite infection rates dropping below the national average in the region .
The shock decision came as Northern leaders and MPs lobbied the Government to set Greater Manchester free from Tier 3 with a move to Tier 2 with Northern MPs and Greater Manchester leaders lobbying Number Ten to relax rules .
Many view the decision not to release Greater Manchester from Tier 3 as a way to “ stop Londoners moaning ” as the Capital has been forced into Tier 3 due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham , who was involved in a spat with the Government earlier this year over the Tier system said he was “ not at all convinced ” that the Tier system was bringing down infections .
He says that closing hospitality risks more people gathering in homes .
Mr Burnham said : “ I accept that the national mood has changed since those decisions were taken and I can also understand if the government were wanting to err on the side of caution , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above the national average or close to it , so we could understand if a cautious decision was taken in respect of those but there is a clear case for Greater Manchester , a large part of Greater Manchester , to be placed in tier 2.
” Greater Manchester ’ s Nightime Economy cheif Sasha Lord has also highlighted the absurdity of the Tier system .
He told Talk Radio : “ I can walk onto the busy high street , packed with people… but I can not go for lunch with my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be made shortly , Politicalite will have updates .

GREATER Manchester is expected to stay in Tier 3 with pubs and restaurants remaining closed, despite infection rates dropping below the national average in the region.
The shock decision came as Northern leaders and MPs lobbied the Government to set Greater Manchester free from Tier 3 with a move to Tier 2 with Northern MPs and Greater Manchester leaders lobbying Number Ten to relax rules.
Many view the decision not to release Greater Manchester from Tier 3 as a way to “stop Londoners moaning” as the Capital has been forced into Tier 3 due to some of the highest rates in the country.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who was involved in a spat with the Government earlier this year over the Tier system said he was “not at all convinced” that the Tier system was bringing down infections.
He says that closing hospitality risks more people gathering in homes.
Mr Burnham said: “I accept that the national mood has changed since those decisions were taken and I can also understand if the government were wanting to err on the side of caution,” he said.
“Some of our boroughs are above the national average or close to it, so we could understand if a cautious decision was taken in respect of those but there is a clear case for Greater Manchester, a large part of Greater Manchester, to be placed in tier 2.”
Greater Manchester’s Nightime Economy cheif Sasha Lord has also highlighted the absurdity of the Tier system.
He told Talk Radio: “I can walk onto the busy high street, packed with people… but I cannot go for lunch with my mum.”
The official announcement is due to be made shortly, Politicalite will have updates.


politicalite--2020-12-17--OPINION: Boris&Co ‘Punishing Red Wall Voters To Get Back at Burnham’

THIS IS NO WAY TO RUN THE COUNTRY BORIS Johnson and The Conservative Party are “ punishing ” red-wall voters in Greater Manchester to get back at Andy Burnham after he stood up to London in October .
The working-class gave Boris their trust in December , and it ’ s utterly disgraceful that his so-called Government ‘ of the people ’ would refuse to lift harsh restrictions to point score and get back at Burnham .
The ‘ cure ’ is worse than the medicine , and it ’ s making struggling Brits struggle even more .
The Tories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ; they are treating them with contempt .
Red Wall Mancs have followed the rules for two months ; the region ’ s restaurants have suffered losses that Government grants do not make up for .
Outside the Southern Westminster bubble , Northerners are angry , poorer and they are struggling like never before .
Up here in the North , life is tough .
A decade of cuts and Tory Austerity has left people skint and the poorest destitute .
These folk live payday to payday .
They can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic induced poverty crisis like never before , and we ’ re supporting the politicians backing the people .
Working-Class Northerners and Hospitality Workers don ’ t have the financial luxury cushion to deal with Boris ’ flip-flopping Corona regulations that are sending the country into a state of psychosis .
Tier 3 Lockdown isn ’ t solve anything , it is just will putting off the inevitable .
We can go shopping at The Trafford Centre but are unable to go for a pint and a substantial scotch egg .
Great Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wars for our freedom from Nazi Germany is being cowed by a virus , and a leader that hasn ’ t got the faintest idea what to do .
He ’ s taking away your civil liberties and making the poorest suffer to keep the Southerners happy… like the Tories always do .
London was in Tier 2 whilst Manchester remained in Tier 3 .
Our rates are lower and Manc pubs and restaurants are still forced to close , despite infection rates being below the national average .
Our brave heroes did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tyrannical Prime Minister turn into a wannabe Adolf without the Hugo Boss .
That ’ s not all , our bumbling Prime Minister now has the sheer cheek to blame Northerners and Liverpudlians for failing to follow Guidelines , Despite his failure to put together a single coherent policy on Coronavirus .
The working-class gave Boris their trust in December , and it ’ s utterly disgraceful that his so-called Government ‘ of the people ’ would refuse to lift harsh restrictions to point score and get back at Burnham .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine , and it ’ s making struggling Brits struggle even more .
The Tories are no longer the party of the people ; they are treating them with contempt .
They have followed the rules for two months ; the region ’ s restaurants have suffered losses that Government grants do not make up for .
The Democratic representatives of red wall Brits who reluctantly voted Tory for the first time in December 2019 appear to have given Boris Johnson the shortest loan in political history .
The Tory leader who won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it The Democratic representatives of red wall Brits who reluctantly voted Tory for the first time in December 2019 appear to have given Boris Johnson the shortest loan in political history .
The Tory leader who won former staunchly Labour mining seats has ballsed it up like the utter clown he is .
We happily gave our consent and compliance to a tough Lockdown in March .
In October , we sacrificed , struggled , and got on with it , but his Government bungled the effort to tackle the virus by giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donors .
The Working-Class can ’ t continue under this gruesome economy smashing ‘ lockdown in all but name ’ without real financial support and an increase in the measly offering of Universal Credit for those forced on the dole by Boris ’ Corona Crisis .
Publicans can ’ t pay underpaid hospitality staff with no trade .
Gig economy workers and Uber Drivers can ’ t drive around their kitchens and struggling self-employed builders and joiners can ’ t build houses in their back Garden .
The Working-Class politicians rebelling against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Control the Virus ’ know this , but the rest of the greedy pampered ponces in the Palace of Westminster have never had a proper job .
They don ’ t see the struggle of single working mothers unable to pay the leccy , and they don ’ t know the reality of living paycheck to paycheck .
They don ’ t have to choose to feed themselves or feed their kids whilst Tory MPs attack charities for helping some of the countries poorest kids .
They don ’ t have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sanitiser or Gloves .
They don ’ t know the reality of young enterprising money-minded fathers forced into a life of Organised Crime and Drug Dealing to earn a living .
Gangs don ’ t do Furlough .
It ’ s get up and grind or Die .
Middle-Class Tories have some misconceived conception that the Working-Class are scrounging Benefit claimants .
They ’ re not .
They want to work , but the Government is taking away their jobs .
The Tier 2 Lockdown imposed on London in October will reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic recovery for Boris ’ mishandling of the pandemic for the next few years , it ’ s going to be very , very , grim .
Universal Credit doesn ’ t cover monthly expenses .
Most would rather risk their lives to put food on their families table .
Most would instead grind and survive than live in lockdown perpetuity on our knees .
Outside of the Westminster bubble , Northerners have had enough .
There are more Homeless on the street than ever before , Nurses and Careworkers are on reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Adults with Autism are forced to get by on £8.21 an hour whilst MPs in the House of Commons give themselves a £3,000 payrise and attempt re-classify their more than 30 Taxpayer-funded Bars as Canteens .
What Canteen has a yearly bill of more than £6.2m ?
Where is the official opposition to this Tory attack on the North ?
The Parliamentary Labour Party is too busy colluding with the Tories on Authoritarian ‘ SpyCop ’ Bills and more economy crushing Lockdowns .
‘ Smarmy Southern Starmer ’ wants hard-up Covid-Pressed Brits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , one man has stood up to Boris Johnson ’ s Tory Attack on the Working-Classes along with Tory and Labour MPs .
Burnham said that working-classes in Greater Manchester were “ being set up as canaries in the coal mine ” as he and 19 MPs rejected Boris Johnson ’ s draconian highest Tier of Lockdown that have devastated Businesses across the North .
Mr Burnham said the Greater Manchester leaders were “ fighting back ” against restrictions they say are “ flawed and unfair ” , they still are and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters to settle scores .
This is no way to run the country .
A working-class man had the support from both Tory and Labour MP ’ s is leading the fight to protect jobs and the livelihoods and businesses of some of the poorest in our society , whilst our Prime Minister is engaged in Covid-Warfare to settle old scores on the North .
It ’ s Time Boris Johnson listened to what the Northern leaders are saying , and it ’ s time he delivered on his promise to Level up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ended this disastrous Tier 3 lockdown once and for all .
The balls in the Jesters Court .

THIS IS NO WAY TO RUN THE COUNTRY
BORIS Johnson and The Conservative Party are “punishing” red-wall voters in Greater Manchester to get back at Andy Burnham after he stood up to London in October.
The working-class gave Boris their trust in December, and it’s utterly disgraceful that his so-called Government ‘of the people’ would refuse to lift harsh restrictions to point score and get back at Burnham.
The ‘cure’ is worse than the medicine, and it’s making struggling Brits struggle even more. The Tories are no longer the party of the people; they are treating them with contempt. Red Wall Mancs have followed the rules for two months; the region’s restaurants have suffered losses that Government grants do not make up for.
NORTH V SOUTH
Outside the Southern Westminster bubble, Northerners are angry, poorer and they are struggling like never before.
Up here in the North, life is tough. A decade of cuts and Tory Austerity has left people skint and the poorest destitute. These folk live payday to payday. They can’t afford a Lockdown. There is a pandemic induced poverty crisis like never before, and we’re supporting the politicians backing the people.
Working-Class Northerners and Hospitality Workers don’t have the financial luxury cushion to deal with Boris’ flip-flopping Corona regulations that are sending the country into a state of psychosis.
Tier 3 Lockdown isn’t solve anything, it is just will putting off the inevitable. We can go shopping at The Trafford Centre but are unable to go for a pint and a substantial scotch egg.
Great Britain, the country that won TWO World Wars for our freedom from Nazi Germany is being cowed by a virus, and a leader that hasn’t got the faintest idea what to do. He’s taking away your civil liberties and making the poorest suffer to keep the Southerners happy… like the Tories always do.
London was in Tier 2 whilst Manchester remained in Tier 3. Our rates are lower and Manc pubs and restaurants are still forced to close, despite infection rates being below the national average.
Our brave heroes did not die in vain only to see a tyrannical Prime Minister turn into a wannabe Adolf without the Hugo Boss.
That’s not all, our bumbling Prime Minister now has the sheer cheek to blame Northerners and Liverpudlians for failing to follow Guidelines, Despite his failure to put together a single coherent policy on Coronavirus.
The working-class gave Boris their trust in December, and it’s utterly disgraceful that his so-called Government ‘of the people’ would refuse to lift harsh restrictions to point score and get back at Burnham.
The ‘cure’ is worse than the medicine, and it’s making struggling Brits struggle even more. The Tories are no longer the party of the people; they are treating them with contempt. They have followed the rules for two months; the region’s restaurants have suffered losses that Government grants do not make up for.
The Democratic representatives of red wall Brits who reluctantly voted Tory for the first time in December 2019 appear to have given Boris Johnson the shortest loan in political history. The Tory leader who won former staunchly Labour mining seats has ballsed it
The Democratic representatives of red wall Brits who reluctantly voted Tory for the first time in December 2019 appear to have given Boris Johnson the shortest loan in political history. The Tory leader who won former staunchly Labour mining seats has ballsed it up like the utter clown he is.
We happily gave our consent and compliance to a tough Lockdown in March. In October, we sacrificed, struggled, and got on with it, but his Government bungled the effort to tackle the virus by giving crony million-pound deals to the Tories biggest donors.
IT’S TOUGH UP NORTH
The Working-Class can’t continue under this gruesome economy smashing ‘lockdown in all but name’ without real financial support and an increase in the measly offering of Universal Credit for those forced on the dole by Boris’ Corona Crisis.
Publicans can’t pay underpaid hospitality staff with no trade. Gig economy workers and Uber Drivers can’t drive around their kitchens and struggling self-employed builders and joiners can’t build houses in their back Garden.
The Working-Class politicians rebelling against the Lockdown Clown’s latest attempt to ‘Control the Virus’ know this, but the rest of the greedy pampered ponces in the Palace of Westminster have never had a proper job. They don’t see the struggle of single working mothers unable to pay the leccy, and they don’t know the reality of living paycheck to paycheck.
They don’t have to choose to feed themselves or feed their kids whilst Tory MPs attack charities for helping some of the countries poorest kids.
They don’t have to live on the streets with no PPE, Sanitiser or Gloves. They don’t know the reality of young enterprising money-minded fathers forced into a life of Organised Crime and Drug Dealing to earn a living. Gangs don’t do Furlough. It’s get up and grind or Die.
Middle-Class Tories have some misconceived conception that the Working-Class are scrounging Benefit claimants. They’re not. They want to work, but the Government is taking away their jobs. The Tier 2 Lockdown imposed on London in October will reportedly cost over 200,000 hospitality jobs. The economic recovery for Boris’ mishandling of the pandemic for the next few years, it’s going to be very, very, grim.
Universal Credit doesn’t cover monthly expenses. Most would rather risk their lives to put food on their families table. Most would instead grind and survive than live in lockdown perpetuity on our knees.
Outside of the Westminster bubble, Northerners have had enough. There are more Homeless on the street than ever before, Nurses and Careworkers are on reduced pay.
Careworkers who provide lifesaving support for Adults with Autism are forced to get by on £8.21 an hour whilst MPs in the House of Commons give themselves a £3,000 payrise and attempt re-classify their more than 30 Taxpayer-funded Bars as Canteens. What Canteen has a yearly bill of more than £6.2m?
Where is the official opposition to this Tory attack on the North? The Parliamentary Labour Party is too busy colluding with the Tories on Authoritarian ‘SpyCop’ Bills and more economy crushing Lockdowns.
‘Smarmy Southern Starmer’ wants hard-up Covid-Pressed Brits to continue under this Tier system.
However, one man has stood up to Boris Johnson’s Tory Attack on the Working-Classes along with Tory and Labour MPs.
Burnham said that working-classes in Greater Manchester were “being set up as canaries in the coal mine” as he and 19 MPs rejected Boris Johnson’s draconian highest Tier of Lockdown that have devastated Businesses across the North.
Mr Burnham said the Greater Manchester leaders were “fighting back” against restrictions they say are “flawed and unfair”, they still are and now the Government is punishing their own voters to settle scores. This is no way to run the country.
A working-class man had the support from both Tory and Labour MP’s is leading the fight to protect jobs and the livelihoods and businesses of some of the poorest in our society, whilst our Prime Minister is engaged in Covid-Warfare to settle old scores on the North.
It’s Time Boris Johnson listened to what the Northern leaders are saying, and it’s time he delivered on his promise to Level up the UK. It’s time he ended this disastrous Tier 3 lockdown once and for all.
The balls in the Jesters Court.


politicalite--2020-12-17--NASTY PARTY: Multi-Millionaire MP Attacks Unicef For Feeding Poor Kids

JACOB Rees-Mogg , the multi-millionaire Commons leader with five children who will never have to worry about food , has said that Unicef should be “ ashamed ” at feeding some of Britain ’ s poorest kids for the first time in its seventy-year history .
The nasty Tory who has an estimated net-worth of £150m and will receive an £800,000 dividend at the end of the year attacked the charity for doing work the British Government should be doing .
Unicef that provides food and disaster relief in third-world countries announced that it would be feeding 1,800 needy children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its seventy-year history .
Mr Mogg was responding to questions from Labour MP Zarah Sultana who highlighted the “ grotesque inequality ” in Britain and claimed that wealthy people were enjoying “ obscene riches ” whilst British kids go hungry at Christmas .
“ From Tory donors handed billions in dodgy contracts to people like the Leader of the House , who is reportedly in line to receive an £800,000 dividend payout this year.
” Mr Rees-Mogg said in the House of Commons : “ It ’ s a real scandal that Unicef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it is meant to be looking after people in the poorest and most deprived countries in the world , where people are starving , where there are famines and there are civil wars – and they make cheap political points of this kind , giving , I think , £25,000 to one council.
” “ It is a political stunt of the lowest order.
” He added : “ Unicef should be ashamed of itself.
” His comments came as an estimated 1,800 families struggle as a result of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Christmas school holidays , the charity School Food Matters said .
The Food Power for Generation Covid initiative , in partnership with Sustain : the alliance for better food and farming , and the Southwark Food Power Alliance , has been made possible by a £25,000 grant from Unicef UK .
It represents the first time the organisation has developed a domestic emergency response .
Unicef said the coronavirus pandemic is the most urgent crisis affecting children since the Second World War .
The families in Southwark , south London , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by schools for two weeks when they break up .
The programme will also provide 6,750 breakfasts to families over the February half-term break .
Anna Kettley , director of programmes at Unicef UK , said : “ This is Unicef ’ s first ever emergency response within the UK , introduced to tackle the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus crisis and reach the families most in need .
“ The grant for School Food Matters will address the gap in current provision for children , providing approximately 1,800 children with breakfast bags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term .
“ This funding will help build stronger communities as the impact of the pandemics worsen , but ultimately a longer-term solution is needed to tackle the root causes of food poverty , so no child is left to go hungry.
” School Food Matters founder Stephanie Slater said : “ The response to our summer Breakfast Boxes programme has shown us that families are really struggling and many were facing the grim reality of a two-week winter break without access to free school meals and the indignity of having to rely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ By providing our breakfast boxes , families know that their children will have a great start to the day with a healthy nutritious breakfast.
” The Prime Minister ’ s official spokesman said : “ We would point to the substantial action we ’ ve taken to ensure that children don ’ t go hungry through the pandemic and I would point to the additional £16 million we pledged not too long ago to food distribution charities.
” Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said : “ The fact that Unicef is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s hungry children is a disgrace and Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak should be ashamed .
“ We are one of the richest countries in the world .
Our children should not have to rely on humanitarian charities that are used to operating in war zones and in response to natural disasters .
“ Charities and businesses across the country have done a brilliant job stepping in where the Government has failed , but it should have never come to this .
”

717 SHARES Share Tweet
JACOB Rees-Mogg, the multi-millionaire Commons leader with five children who will never have to worry about food, has said that Unicef should be “ashamed” at feeding some of Britain’s poorest kids for the first time in its seventy-year history.
The nasty Tory who has an estimated net-worth of £150m and will receive an £800,000 dividend at the end of the year attacked the charity for doing work the British Government should be doing.
Unicef that provides food and disaster relief in third-world countries announced that it would be feeding 1,800 needy children over Christmas for the first time in its seventy-year history.
Mr Mogg was responding to questions from Labour MP Zarah Sultana who highlighted the “grotesque inequality” in Britain and claimed that wealthy people were enjoying “obscene riches” whilst British kids go hungry at Christmas.
“From Tory donors handed billions in dodgy contracts to people like the Leader of the House, who is reportedly in line to receive an £800,000 dividend payout this year.”
Mr Rees-Mogg said in the House of Commons: “It’s a real scandal that Unicef should be playing politics in this way when it is meant to be looking after people in the poorest and most deprived countries in the world, where people are starving, where there are famines and there are civil wars – and they make cheap political points of this kind, giving, I think, £25,000 to one council.”
“It is a political stunt of the lowest order.”
He added: “Unicef should be ashamed of itself.”
His comments came as an estimated 1,800 families struggle as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Unicef will provide breakfast boxes over the Christmas school holidays, the charity School Food Matters said.
The Food Power for Generation Covid initiative, in partnership with Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming, and the Southwark Food Power Alliance, has been made possible by a £25,000 grant from Unicef UK.
It represents the first time the organisation has developed a domestic emergency response.
Unicef said the coronavirus pandemic is the most urgent crisis affecting children since the Second World War.
The families in Southwark, south London, will receive 18,000 breakfasts which will be distributed by schools for two weeks when they break up.
The programme will also provide 6,750 breakfasts to families over the February half-term break.
Anna Kettley, director of programmes at Unicef UK, said: “This is Unicef’s first ever emergency response within the UK, introduced to tackle the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus crisis and reach the families most in need.
“The grant for School Food Matters will address the gap in current provision for children, providing approximately 1,800 children with breakfast bags during the Christmas holidays and February half term.
“This funding will help build stronger communities as the impact of the pandemics worsen, but ultimately a longer-term solution is needed to tackle the root causes of food poverty, so no child is left to go hungry.”
School Food Matters founder Stephanie Slater said: “The response to our summer Breakfast Boxes programme has shown us that families are really struggling and many were facing the grim reality of a two-week winter break without access to free school meals and the indignity of having to rely on food banks to feed their children.
“By providing our breakfast boxes, families know that their children will have a great start to the day with a healthy nutritious breakfast.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We would point to the substantial action we’ve taken to ensure that children don’t go hungry through the pandemic and I would point to the additional £16 million we pledged not too long ago to food distribution charities.”
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “The fact that Unicef is having to step in to feed our country’s hungry children is a disgrace and Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak should be ashamed.
“We are one of the richest countries in the world. Our children should not have to rely on humanitarian charities that are used to operating in war zones and in response to natural disasters.
“Charities and businesses across the country have done a brilliant job stepping in where the Government has failed, but it should have never come to this.”
Additional Reporting by PA Media


politicalite--2020-12-18--NO ACTION: FA Takes No Action Against Millwall And Colchester Over Fans Booing Players ‘Taking The K

NO ACTION: FA Takes No Action Against Millwall And Colchester Over Fans Booing Players ‘Taking The Knee’

The Football Association has chosen not to impose any disciplinary action on Millwall or Colchester after sections of their crowd booed players taking the knee .
Millwall ’ s Championship loss to Derby and Colchester ’ s win over Grimsby in League Two on December 5 were overshadowed by supporters opposing the Black Lives Matter campaign .
Despite a strong backlash , the FA has ruled against punishing either club .
It said in a statement : “ The FA has conducted full and thorough investigations into the crowd-related incidents that took place at both The Den and JobServe Community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Having carefully considered these matters , including the observations from all relevant parties , we can confirm that no formal disciplinary action will be taken against the clubs concerned on this occasion .
“ However , The FA would like to further clarify that anyone who chooses to take the knee will continue to receive our support as they highlight the inequality and injustice experienced by the Black community .
“ To be clear , we do not see taking the knee as a political symbol , and would contend that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the gesture means in a footballing context .
“ Therefore , going forward , The FA will continue to monitor and investigate should similar crowd-related incidents occur .
“ The FA continues to support all players and clubs that wish to take a stand against any form of discrimination , and will always condemn the behaviours of anyone that chooses to actively oppose these values.
” The FA ’ s response comes as the Professional Footballers ’ Association revealed that taking the knee as an act of solidarity against racism continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The players ’ union says it has consulted with its membership and the vast majority want to continue taking the knee .
The PFA also accused the EFL of showing “ a lack of leadership ” over the issue .
“ Players overwhelmingly support continuing this act of solidarity despite any adverse responses that may be received , ” a union statement said .
“ The decision to take the knee before matches was initially made by Premier League captains during Project Restart , to show solidarity with black people facing discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solidarity represents the players ’ commitment to anti-racism and is not an endorsement of any political position .
It is a peaceful act of unity that highlights a persistent and systemic issue.
” Millwall Supporters ’ Club said the booing was targeted at the political views of the Black Lives Matter organisation , and not motivated by racism .
QPR players Ilias Chair and Bright Osayi-Samuel took the knee to celebrate a goal against Millwall .
Rangers ’ director of football Les Ferdinand has previously spoken about how he feels the gesture has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ little more than good PR ” .
Nevertheless , the PFA feels the continued support for the gesture among players provides the mandate for competitions to give it their full backing .
“ While the Premier League has already committed to teams taking the knee for the duration of the season , players across the EFL have been left in a difficult position following a lack of leadership on the issue , ” the PFA statement continued .
“ The survey conducted by the PFA has shown overwhelming support for continuing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this gives the EFL and the clubs involved the information needed to support the players.
” An EFL spokesman said : “ Taking the knee has , quite rightly , been a player-led initiative taken in support of the anti-discrimination and anti-racism message across football and wider society .
“ The league ’ s position , which has remained consistent throughout this period and is a position shared across the professional game , is that we will continue to respect and support the decision of individual players who wish to take this form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom of expression on this issue .
“ By definition it has to be an individuals ’ choice as to whether they wish to ‘ take a knee ’ before a match if it is to remain an effective stance .
“ We have provided guidance to match officials and clubs to help them support players on match days and the position has remained the same since the return of EFL fixtures in June so there shouldn ’ t be any confusion on this matter .
“ We will continue to listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our ongoing work with football ’ s wider stakeholders to tackle all forms of discrimination in our game .
”

The Football Association has chosen not to impose any disciplinary action on Millwall or Colchester after sections of their crowd booed players taking the knee.
Millwall’s Championship loss to Derby and Colchester’s win over Grimsby in League Two on December 5 were overshadowed by supporters opposing the Black Lives Matter campaign.
Despite a strong backlash, the FA has ruled against punishing either club.
It said in a statement: “The FA has conducted full and thorough investigations into the crowd-related incidents that took place at both The Den and JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday 5 December 2020.
“Having carefully considered these matters, including the observations from all relevant parties, we can confirm that no formal disciplinary action will be taken against the clubs concerned on this occasion.
“However, The FA would like to further clarify that anyone who chooses to take the knee will continue to receive our support as they highlight the inequality and injustice experienced by the Black community.
“To be clear, we do not see taking the knee as a political symbol, and would contend that there can now be no doubt as to what the gesture means in a footballing context.
“Therefore, going forward, The FA will continue to monitor and investigate should similar crowd-related incidents occur.
“The FA continues to support all players and clubs that wish to take a stand against any form of discrimination, and will always condemn the behaviours of anyone that chooses to actively oppose these values.”
The FA’s response comes as the Professional Footballers’ Association revealed that taking the knee as an act of solidarity against racism continues to have the overwhelming support of its members.
The players’ union says it has consulted with its membership and the vast majority want to continue taking the knee. The PFA also accused the EFL of showing “a lack of leadership” over the issue.
“Players overwhelmingly support continuing this act of solidarity despite any adverse responses that may be received,” a union statement said.
“The decision to take the knee before matches was initially made by Premier League captains during Project Restart, to show solidarity with black people facing discrimination globally.
“This powerful symbol of solidarity represents the players’ commitment to anti-racism and is not an endorsement of any political position. It is a peaceful act of unity that highlights a persistent and systemic issue.”
Millwall Supporters’ Club said the booing was targeted at the political views of the Black Lives Matter organisation, and not motivated by racism.
QPR players Ilias Chair and Bright Osayi-Samuel took the knee to celebrate a goal against Millwall.
Rangers’ director of football Les Ferdinand has previously spoken about how he feels the gesture has become “diluted” and is now “little more than good PR”.
Nevertheless, the PFA feels the continued support for the gesture among players provides the mandate for competitions to give it their full backing.
“While the Premier League has already committed to teams taking the knee for the duration of the season, players across the EFL have been left in a difficult position following a lack of leadership on the issue,” the PFA statement continued.
“The survey conducted by the PFA has shown overwhelming support for continuing to take a knee, and we hope this gives the EFL and the clubs involved the information needed to support the players.”
An EFL spokesman said: “Taking the knee has, quite rightly, been a player-led initiative taken in support of the anti-discrimination and anti-racism message across football and wider society.
“The league’s position, which has remained consistent throughout this period and is a position shared across the professional game, is that we will continue to respect and support the decision of individual players who wish to take this form of action as we respect players’ freedom of expression on this issue.
“By definition it has to be an individuals’ choice as to whether they wish to ‘take a knee’ before a match if it is to remain an effective stance.
“We have provided guidance to match officials and clubs to help them support players on match days and the position has remained the same since the return of EFL fixtures in June so there shouldn’t be any confusion on this matter.
“We will continue to listen to the players’ views as part of our ongoing work with football’s wider stakeholders to tackle all forms of discrimination in our game.”
Additional Reporting By The Press Association


politicalite--2020-12-18--CONTEMPT OF COURT: BBC Forced To Apologise Over Broadcasting Online Court Footage

The BBC has apologised after broadcasting a snippet of footage of an online High Court hearing without permission .
A barrister representing the BBC on Friday offered an apology after two senior judges began contempt of court proceedings .
Trevor Burke QC said an internal BBC investigation had begun .
He estimated that about 450,000 people had seen the footage , broadcast on the BBC ’ s South East Today , in mid-November .
The footage showed part of a hearing , staged in November , relating to oil drilling near Gatwick .
Environmental campaigner Sarah Finch had challenged Surrey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a well six miles from her home in Redhill , Surrey , to be extended .
She is waiting for a judge ’ s ruling .
Two judges on Friday began considering whether the BBC was in contempt at a separate High Court hearing in London .
Lady Justice Andrews and Mr Justice Warby oversaw a preliminary hearing and made no rulings .
They are due to oversee a further hearing in the near future .
Legislation which is nearly 100 years old bans the taking of photographs in court hearings .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person ” shall “ take or attempt to take in any court any photograph , or with a view to publication make or attempt to make in any court any portrait or sketch , of any person ” .
Senior judges have ruled that the taking of photographs , or film , in court can also be a contempt of court .
Trials are currently regularly being conducted online because of coronavirus , and legislation recently introduced also makes taking screenshots or broadcasting footage an offence .
The 2020 Coronavirus Act says : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person to make , or attempt to make – ( a ) an unauthorised recording , or ( b ) an unauthorised transmission , of an image or sound which is being broadcast .
”

The BBC has apologised after broadcasting a snippet of footage of an online High Court hearing without permission.
A barrister representing the BBC on Friday offered an apology after two senior judges began contempt of court proceedings.
Trevor Burke QC said an internal BBC investigation had begun.
He estimated that about 450,000 people had seen the footage, broadcast on the BBC’s South East Today, in mid-November.
The footage showed part of a hearing, staged in November, relating to oil drilling near Gatwick. Environmental campaigner Sarah Finch had challenged Surrey County Council’s decision to allow a well six miles from her home in Redhill, Surrey, to be extended. She is waiting for a judge’s ruling.
Two judges on Friday began considering whether the BBC was in contempt at a separate High Court hearing in London.
The BBC has apologised after broadcasting a snippet of footage of an online High Court hearing without permission (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Lady Justice Andrews and Mr Justice Warby oversaw a preliminary hearing and made no rulings.
They are due to oversee a further hearing in the near future.
Legislation which is nearly 100 years old bans the taking of photographs in court hearings.
The 1925 Criminal Justice Act says “no person” shall “take or attempt to take in any court any photograph, or with a view to publication make or attempt to make in any court any portrait or sketch, of any person”.
Senior judges have ruled that the taking of photographs, or film, in court can also be a contempt of court.
Trials are currently regularly being conducted online because of coronavirus, and legislation recently introduced also makes taking screenshots or broadcasting footage an offence.
The 2020 Coronavirus Act says: “It is an offence for a person to make, or attempt to make – (a) an unauthorised recording, or (b) an unauthorised transmission, of an image or sound which is being broadcast.”
Additional Reporting By The Press Association


politicalite--2020-12-19--TRUE HERO: 7/7 Survivor Nicki ‘Stix’ Ratcliff Dies From Cancer, aged 44

A LADY who survived the 7/7 terrorist attacks on London in 2005 has died from cancer , her family has said .
Nicki Ratcliff who used the name ‘ Nicki Stix ’ on Twitter was an influential voice on social media right and amassed more than 28,000 followers amid he battle with Cancer that was reported in 2018 .
She was a passenger on London ’ s Piccadilly Line tube train that was bombed by Islamic Terrorists in 2005 amid the Iraq War .
The terrorist atrocity was seen as the ‘ biggest attack on the West ’ since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 52 people .
Nicky , 44 overcame PTSD and trauma of the 7/7 attacks with a walking group where she met husband Mike Ratcliff .
Her husband told Nikki ’ s followers on Friday : “ This is Nicky ’ s husband Mike .
I ’ ve never tweeted before but here I go.
” “ Just to let anyone reading this know that Nicky died early this morning .
She was totally calm and I held her hand the whole way through .
She had no pain at all and she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ married in 2014 , and had a daughter named Ivy , sadly Nicky was diagnosed with breast cancer .
Despite a lumpectomy and radiotherapy , after being admitted to hospital with suspected appendicitis the aggressive cancer had spread to her liver .
Nicki Ratcliff who used the name ‘ Nicki Stax ’ on Twitter was an influential voice on social media right and amassed more than 28,000 followers amid he battle with Cancer that was reported in 2018 .
She was remembered in thousands of heart-felt tweets .
Celebrity Publican Adam Brooks said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she was a pleasure to social media know.
” Steve Laws said : “ So sorry to hear , horrible news , may she rest in peace.
” Former MEP Martin Daubney said : “ Sending huge love , she was always so positive despite everything she went through .
Peace to you.
” Gim me Gim me Gim me actor James Dreyfus said : “ Oh my lord .
Mike , I ’ m so sorry .
I only knew her from here but we chatted often and she was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much.
” She once said of her battle with cancer : “ It changes , and we just take it as it comes .
I have to try to think positive and think there ’ s got to be a way through it.
” – a fitting message for those struggling amid Tier lockdowns .

37 SHARES Share Tweet
A LADY who survived the 7/7 terrorist attacks on London in 2005 has died from cancer, her family has said.
Nicki Ratcliff who used the name ‘Nicki Stix’ on Twitter was an influential voice on social media right and amassed more than 28,000 followers amid he battle with Cancer that was reported in 2018.
She was a passenger on London’s Piccadilly Line tube train that was bombed by Islamic Terrorists in 2005 amid the Iraq War.
The terrorist atrocity was seen as the ‘biggest attack on the West’ since the 9/11 attacks on New York and killed 52 people.
Nicky, 44 overcame PTSD and trauma of the 7/7 attacks with a walking group where she met husband Mike Ratcliff.
Her husband told Nikki’s followers on Friday: “This is Nicky’s husband Mike. I’ve never tweeted before but here I go.”
“Just to let anyone reading this know that Nicky died early this morning. She was totally calm and I held her hand the whole way through. She had no pain at all and she’s finally at peace.”
The couple married in 2014, and had a daughter named Ivy, sadly Nicky was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Despite a lumpectomy and radiotherapy, after being admitted to hospital with suspected appendicitis the aggressive cancer had spread to her liver.
Nicki Ratcliff who used the name ‘Nicki Stax’ on Twitter was an influential voice on social media right and amassed more than 28,000 followers amid he battle with Cancer that was reported in 2018.
She was remembered in thousands of heart-felt tweets.
Celebrity Publican Adam Brooks said: “So very sorry to hear, she was a pleasure to social media know.”
So very sorry to hear, she was a pleasure to social media know xxx — Adam Brooks ? (@EssexPR) December 18, 2020
Steve Laws said: “So sorry to hear, horrible news, may she rest in peace.”
https://twitter.com/SteveLaws_/status/1339917925126422531
Former MEP Martin Daubney said: “Sending huge love, she was always so positive despite everything she went through. Peace to you.”
Sending huge love, she was always so positive despite everything she went through. Peace to you ? — Martin Daubney ✌??? (@MartinDaubney) December 18, 2020
Gimme Gimme Gimme actor James Dreyfus said: “Oh my lord. Mike, I’m so sorry. I only knew her from here but we chatted often and she was just wonderful!! Thinking of you so much.”
Oh my lord. Mike, I’m so sorry. I only knew her from here but we chatted often and she was just wonderful!! Thinking of you so much. ? — James Dreyfus (@DreyfusJames) December 18, 2020
She once said of her battle with cancer: “It changes, and we just take it as it comes. I have to try to think positive and think there’s got to be a way through it.” – a fitting message for those struggling amid Tier lockdowns.


politicalite--2020-12-19--HOSTEL DEATH: Womens Body ‘Found In Suitcase’

The body of a woman has been found in a suitcase at a hostel in west London , police said .
The Metropolitan Police were called to the Pay and Sleep hostel in The Crescent , Southall , shortly before 3pm on Friday after a body was found .
A Met statement said : “ The deceased was found inside a suitcase at the address.
” The force said the death is being treated as unexplained and inquiries to identify the woman are ongoing .
A resident of the hostel , who gave his name as Martin , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person ” .
“ I know it was found in a suitcase , the body , ” he said .
Martin said he had known the woman for “ about five years ” when he lived in Acton .
“ We had similar friends .
Nice girl , very nice and friendly , ” he said .
“ A very good person.
” Another resident , Lisa , said the woman ’ s boyfriend had gone missing following the incident .
“ She lived in the floor up at the top .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polish guys that she ’ d gone to Victoria coach station , ” she said .
“ No one could get hold of her but now we know why .
“ Her boyfriend has gone missing , because she had someone living in the room with her .
We don ’ t know where he is .
“ She was a lovely girl , she kept herself to herself.
” The Met said a post-mortem examination would take place on Saturday at Fulham Mortuary .
No arrests have been made and officers remain @ @ @ @

The body of a woman has been found in a suitcase at a hostel in west London, police said.
The Metropolitan Police were called to the Pay and Sleep hostel in The Crescent, Southall, shortly before 3pm on Friday after a body was found.
A Met statement said: “The deceased was found inside a suitcase at the address.”
The force said the death is being treated as unexplained and inquiries to identify the woman are ongoing.
A resident of the hostel, who gave his name as Martin, said the woman had been a “very good person”.
“I know it was found in a suitcase, the body,” he said.
“She was my good friend.”
Martin said he had known the woman for “about five years” when he lived in Acton.
“We had similar friends. Nice girl, very nice and friendly,” he said. “A very good person.”
Another resident, Lisa, said the woman’s boyfriend had gone missing following the incident.
“She lived in the floor up at the top. We were told by one of the other Polish guys that she’d gone to Victoria coach station,” she said.
“No one could get hold of her but now we know why.
“Her boyfriend has gone missing, because she had someone living in the room with her. We don’t know where he is.
“She was a lovely girl, she kept herself to herself.”
The Met said a post-mortem examination would take place on Saturday at Fulham Mortuary.
No arrests have been made and officers remain at the scene.
Additional Reporting By The Press Association


politicalite--2020-12-19--CLOSED DOORS: Professional Sport Survives Tier 4 Restrictions But Fans Barred From Attending

Elite sport will continue behind closed doors in England despite large areas of the south-east moving into tighter Coronavirus restrictions @ @ @ @ @ sport Oliver Dowden confirmed that elite sport will continue but without fans in the wake @ @ @ @ @ tier-four Covid rules in areas including London , Kent , Essex and Bedfordshire .
People @ @ @ @ @ mix indoors with anyone not from their household , but elite sport will be able @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson announced the new tier-four restrictions in a Downing Street press conference on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ the Government position on Saturday night that elite sport will be able to continue .
@ @ @ @ @ cases and emerging info on the new Covid variant mean London and parts of the @ @ @ @ @ move into Tier 4 , which will be similar to national restrictions in November , @ @ @ @ @ Previous exemptions apply for those who need to work , eg elite athletes , performers @ @ @ @ @ and culture can continue behind closed doors in Tier 4 .
”

Elite sport will continue behind closed doors in England despite large areas of the south-east moving into tighter Coronavirus restrictions.
Secretary of state for sport Oliver Dowden confirmed that elite sport will continue but without fans in the wake of the Government introducing new tier-four Covid rules in areas including London, Kent, Essex and Bedfordshire.
People in tier four cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household, but elite sport will be able to continue.
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced the new tier-four restrictions in a Downing Street press conference on Saturday afternoon.
Dowden then confirmed the Government position on Saturday night that elite sport will be able to continue.
“Sadly, rapidly rising cases and emerging info on the new Covid variant mean London and parts of the South East now need to move into Tier 4, which will be similar to national restrictions in November,” he tweeted.
Oliver Dowden confirmed elite sport can continue behind closed doors in Tier 4 (Yui Mok/PA)
“Previous exemptions apply for those who need to work, eg elite athletes, performers etc.
“Professional sport and culture can continue behind closed doors in Tier 4.”
Additional Reporting By The Press Association


politicalite--2020-12-19--PARLIMENTARY DEBATE: Full Report On Parliamentary Debate On Petition Against Compulsory Vaccination

On 14th December 2020 , a Petition was placed before Parliament for debate .
The petition entitled “ Prevent any restrictions on those who refuse a Covid-19 Vaccination ” garnered 324,261 signatures .
The outcome of this debate could have the most profound consequences for those who choose not to partake in the Government ’ s experimental Covid-19 vaccination rollout .
Will the ability to participate fully within society be curtailed upon refusal ?
Time to take a closer look .
Prevent any restrictions on those who refuse a Covid-19 vaccination I want the Government to prevent any restrictions being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any potential Covid-19 vaccine .
This includes restrictions on travel , social events , such as concerts or sports .
No restrictions whatsoever .
You can not force someone to have a vaccination and should not be able to coerce them into it by way of restrictions .
We have to the right to assess the risk ourselves as we have done in the past .
There are currently no plans to place restrictions on those who refuse to have any potential Covid-19 vaccine…..
It was a lengthy debate I will try and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link at the end of article .
The standard for testing and monitoring vaccines is higher than for most other medicines , because they are unusual in the medical world in that they are put into the bodies of healthy people , especially healthy children .
That means that the acceptable level of risk of harm is much lower than in cancer treatment , for example , for which we accept a certain level of risk , given the illness that we are battling .
If people need any proof that the anti-vax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for public safety , they need look no further than Brian Deer ’ s excellent book , “ The Doctor Who Fooled the World : Andrew Wakefield ’ s War on Vaccines ” , which I had the pleasure of reading before today ’ s debate .
He expertly demonstrates the lies , the bad science , the personal ambition and everything in between that drives this well-funded and well-organised movement , which has ulterior motives to the ones it claims publicly .
Because of the anti-vax movement , children are now dying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been prevented from contracting , such as measles , mumps and rubella , which is an absolute disgrace .
Vaccinations should be strongly encouraged , and I encourage people to take up their flu jab , the MMR vaccination and others , and to take this Covid-19 vaccine when it comes .
However , it must be a matter of personal choice , and I in no way support punishing those who do not choose to take this vaccine , ever mindful that I want them to take it .
I wish that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can convince them The debate centres around the fact that there must be an element of choice , and while the Government have said that vaccination will not be mandated at present , responses such as “ the Government will carefully consider all options to improve vaccination rates , should that be necessary ” may pose a question in the minds of some people about whether they will be made to take it .
I do not think that they will be , but I will listen to the arguments .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispelled , and I believe this debate is the time to ensure that one option is not enforced vaccination , or a penalty for not being vaccinated , or even a curtailment of activity .
Again , it is a point of persuasion .
While I am aware that other nations that may consider immunity passports alongside vaccination , it is my fervent belief that we must not penalise people who remain unconvinced .
I also express my concern over some of those on the internet and social media who promote the opinion—I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine could be harmful and would be detrimental to health and wellbeing .
I gently suggest that we need to listen to the scientists who have the evidence and the knowledge and who can deliver the convincing evidence necessary for people to understand that there should not be a fear .
I caution the internet and social media users against the drive that there seems to be to do that .
I understand that there must be a decent uptake for this vaccine to be effective , but I also understand that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all the necessary evidence must be made public , so that everyone can weigh up the risks and benefits for themselves .
That freedom must be the cornerstone of any discussion of the vaccine .
I thank the 589 Wycombe constituents who signed the petition .
First , vaccines are a good thing .
I wish to add something said by the deputy chief medical officer , Professor Van-Tam : “ If we can get through phase one ” of the priority list— “ and it is a highly effective vaccine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take , then we could in theory take out 99 % of hospitalisations and deaths related to Covid 19.
” ?
? )
That is his estimate ( ?
? )
That is a tremendous thing .
I will certainly have a safe and effective vaccine when it is my turn , and I encourage others to do so .
However , I will not gainsay those people who wish to refuse a medicine .
That brings me to my 2nd point .
Whatever we may think of other people ’ s opinions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we compel people to take a medicine .
It is clear from what my right hon .
Friend the Prime Minister has said that there is no question of the Government compelling people to take a vaccine for this disease , and quite right , too .
It is worth remembering that although the infection fatality rate for this disease is considerably worse than flu—I understand it is between 0.5 % and 1 % .
We are not talking about a 10 % infection fatality rate .
I dare say , if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatality rate , we would all support authoritarian measures without too much of a second thought , because such a serious disease would threaten our civilisation .
This disease , dreadful as it is , has an infection fatality rate of about 1 % overall , so there can be no question of coercing people directly to take the vaccine .
That brings me to the text of the petition , which states : “ I want the Government to prevent any restrictions being placed on those who refuse to have any potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further .
That is not about stopping the Government from compelling people to take it ; it is about ensuring that those people who , for whatever reason , do not wish to take the vaccine , do not lose their liberties as a consequence .
I understand from people better versed in medical ethics that this is known as implicit coercion .
One can imagine a circumstance in which , for example , an airline chose to say to people , “ You may not fly until you have had a vaccine.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can not come in until you have had the vaccine.
” On and on it would go , until reaching a point where unless people have had the vaccine , they can not live what most of us would consider a normal life , going to restaurants , shops or whatever it may be .
To me , that would be totally unacceptable .
Before moving on to why that would be unacceptable , I have to say that it would also be ineffective .
There is a difference between a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being killed by it and a vaccine that stops someone shedding the disease on to others .
The harm principle in the philosophy of freedom is about constraining people ’ s liberties so that they do not harm others .
At the moment , a number of businesses that are looking at restricting their customers to those who have been vaccinated have not understood that , actually , we do not yet know whether the vaccine will stop people shedding the disease .
I turn to something that the Secretary of State for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Pfizer vaccine .
When asked how many people will need to be vaccinated before life can return to normal , he said : “ The answer to that is we just do not know .
So the trials can tell you if a vaccine is clinically safe and if it ’ s effective at protecting an individual from the disease .
What we can ’ know , until we ’ ve vaccinated a significant proportion of the population , is how much it stops the transmission of the disease.
” I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t start seeking to restrict your customers ’ ability to come and do business with you because they haven ’ t had the vaccine.
” I can see that Ministers might face a temptation to say , “ Let ’ s allow the acceleration of the roll-out of the vaccine by turning a blind eye to property owners insisting on people being vaccinated before staying in their bed and breakfast , or whatever it might be.
” I understand the argument , but I have to say to the Minister , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we cross a Rubicon if we say that it is possible to discriminate against people on the basis of their health status .
That would be an ethical mistake , which we could regret for a very long time .
For those two reasons—because it is not an effective thing to do , and because it is morally wrong to discriminate against people on the basis of their choice not to take a vaccine—I will stand with the petitioners in asking the Government to prevent any restrictions being placed on people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I will not give the least succour to the anti-vaxxers , but I say to the Minister that people have all sorts of strange beliefs in this world .
If people do not want to take a vaccine , please let us not turn a blind eye to any kind of discrimination against them .
We can all agree that it is simply not the case that either the UK Government or the Scottish Government have any plans to mandate the covid vaccine and make it compulsory .
Indeed , the Scottish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government—have explicitly said that they will not utilise coercive measures to ensure compliance and increase vaccination rates .
We are in a very fortunate position to be able to discuss and debate the roll-out of a vaccine .
What a marvel .
I read that 70 % of the population needs to be vaccinated with the covid vaccine before we can return to normality , I hope that take-up will be higher than 70 % by the time the roll-out is complete .
Qantas airlines has said that it will not carry passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been vaccinated .
We do not know yet if that is a knee-jerk reaction , if Qantas will be a lone voice , or if individual businesses will seek to impose conditions on the public to access their services while the vaccine is rolled out .
I honestly doubt that that will happen .
It seems unlikely that businesses will be able to legally insist that those whom they employ must be vaccinated .
Nobody denies that people have the right to refuse the vaccine , but insurance companies will surely levy higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who do not take up the vaccine , because they operate on the basis of risk .
What I have heard from constituents and what I have read is that the overwhelming majority of people want to stop having to worry about this virus .
They want an end to the restrictions that we face as soon as that is safely possible .
Many have contacted me—I am sure that I am not alone in the Chamber in saying this—to ask whether , in the roll-out of the vaccine , we could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are living with a terminal condition , which makes their vulnerability to the virus very concerning .
I share the view that those who are living with a terminal condition ought to be prioritised for receiving the vaccine .
The hon .
Lady has outlined a concern on behalf of those who have terminal illnesses .
The families want to enjoy that bit of time with their loved one as well .
We can never ignore their feelings and input into this , either .
Yes .
I would expect and hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be prioritised in the roll-out .
That is important , because those people have to be able to enjoy whatever time they have .
There is a minority—I believe it is a minority—of people who are concerned about the vaccine ’ s safety and/or efficacy .
As we have heard , there is a job to do in convincing them that the vaccine is safe .
However , that may not always be easy , with disinformation and conspiracy theories thriving on the internet .
I had no idea there were so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific expertise expounding their view that the vaccine is not safe , but that is not surprising , given that they are probably the same people who , throughout this entire pandemic , have been perpetuating the myth that the covid-19 virus is some fictional , mythical dark conspiracy .
We know that those who expound these bizarre theories are in the minority , but they manage to reach and even convince some people , and they frighten people .
GPs have raised concerns with us about the new rules being brought in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccinations will take twice as long , as patients need to be observed for 15 minutes .
Again , that might be on very good public health grounds , but I am keen to know from the Minister what they are .
We know that general practice per designated site has to deliver at least 975 vaccinations over a 7 day period .
Turning to the substance of what these 300,000 people have asked us to discuss , at the root it is about vaccine hesitancy .
It is very easy to talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glad that colleagues have not majored on that , because to an extent that is a straw man .
Multiple hon .
Members made contributions about just how thin the basis for those conspiracy theories or anti-vax sentiments are .
We could spend all day deconstructing them and never lose the argument , but that concerns only a very small proportion of the British people .
We know from polling , and from our constituency mailbags , that those people are a very small group indeed .
There is a much more significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a majority—who are vaccine-hesitant , and entirely reasonably .
There is a pretty broad political consensus against compulsion , coercion or inconveniencing people into submission .
I know what our position is as the Opposition , but no one studies what the Government say more closely than we do , and I have never detected a desire for mandatory vaccination in what they are saying .
I hope that business will take the same view .
People ’ s unwillingness to take the covid-19 vaccine has a knock-on effect on vaccine hesitancy more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in the World Health Organisation ’ s top 10 threats to global health—it was up there with a future pandemic .
It is something that we have to address , whether it is related to covid-19 or not .
In Denmark in 2013 , false claims in a documentary about the human papillomavirus vaccine led to a decline in uptake of around 90 % among some cohorts .
Similarly , between 2014 and 2017 in Ireland , vocal attacks on the HPV vaccine from the anti-vaccine lobby led to a drop in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These things matter .
What we see through those developments , and through our experiences in this country , is that the best method of countering those views is through proactive , positive health-promoting campaigns .
I know that is something the Government are doing , and it is very welcome .
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy – ( Nadhim Zahawi ) I will hopefully address the excellent—as always—speech by my hon .
Friend the Member for Wycombe ( Mr Baker ) .
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Ayrshire and Arran ( Patricia Gibson ) both for her excellent speech and for her clear confirmation that neither the Scottish Government nor the United Kingdom Government will mandate vaccination at all .
At each point in the pandemic , every decision we have taken has been with the utmost consideration for its impact on our personal freedoms .
The petition that we are debating is a matter of great legal and ethical complexity .
Before I address some of those complexities , I will set out the facts .
First , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on those who refuse to have a covid vaccination .
As my hon .
Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington reminded us , we have no plans to introduce so-called vaccine passporting .
Mandating vaccinations is discriminatory and completely wrong , and I urge businesses listening to this debate to not even think about that .
I will explain in further detail why that is the wrong thing to do .
I put on record my thanks to Professor Karol Sikora , who has many hundreds of thousands of followers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealt with the issue .
We have absolutely no plans for vaccine passporting .
Secondly , cards that were issued after people got their first covid-19 vaccination have been mentioned on social media .
Among other details , they contain the date of their second vaccination .
That record does not constitute a so-called vaccine passport .
Even if people are vaccinated , they must continue to follow the rules where they are , and keep taking the common-sense steps that are now so familiar to us—washing our hands , covering our face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have raised many questions about the World Health Organisation and the required international response .
The United Kingdom Government have led the way .
We could do even more .
Next year , the UK will take up the presidency of the G7 , as the hon .
Member for Nottingham North mentioned ; we will need to deal with anti-vaxxers nationally and internationally .
We look forward to working with many nations on that challenge .
None of this reassures me , despite ministers repeatedly stating they have no plans for restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequent “ warnings ” sent to businesses appear to me to be the MPs get out of jail free card – passing the buck to private corporate entities to implement via their terms and conditions of business .
The constant slurs towards so called “ anti vaxxers ” evidenced clearly their feelings with an especially low blow being aimed at Dr Andrew Wakefield whose only “ crime ” was to give the many parents of vaccine damaged children a voice .
The most chilling part of all has to be the two references @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Last year , vaccine hesitancy was in the World Health Organisation ’ s top 10 “ threats to global health ” —it was up there with a future pandemic .
It is something that we have to address , whether it is related to covid-19 or not .
• Next year , the UK will take up the presidency of the G7 ; we will need to deal with anti-vaxxers nationally & internationally .
Despite the reassuring words from MPs that there will be no of loss of liberty and they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I fear in those two paragraphs alone we have our answer don ’ t you ?

ON 14th December 2020, a Petition was placed before Parliament for debate. The petition entitled “Prevent any restrictions on those who refuse a Covid-19 Vaccination” garnered 324,261 signatures.
The outcome of this debate could have the most profound consequences for those who choose not to partake in the Government’s experimental Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Will the ability to participate fully within society be curtailed upon refusal?
Time to take a closer look.
The Petition read:-
Prevent any restrictions on those who refuse a Covid-19 vaccination
I want the Government to prevent any restrictions being placed on those who refuse to have any potential Covid-19 vaccine. This includes restrictions on travel, social events, such as concerts or sports. No restrictions whatsoever.
You cannot force someone to have a vaccination and should not be able to coerce them into it by way of restrictions. We have to the right to assess the risk ourselves as we have done in the past.
The Government response – 11 September 2020:-
There are currently no plans to place restrictions on those who refuse to have any potential Covid-19 vaccine…..
The Debate
It was a lengthy debate I will try and summarise the important information by attaching full link at the end of article.
Elliot Colburn MP (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)
The standard for testing and monitoring vaccines is higher than for most other medicines, because they are unusual in the medical world in that they are put into the bodies of healthy people, especially healthy children. That means that the acceptable level of risk of harm is much lower than in cancer treatment, for example, for which we accept a certain level of risk, given the illness that we are battling.
If people need any proof that the anti-vax movement is driven by anything but concern for public safety, they need look no further than Brian Deer’s excellent book, “The Doctor Who Fooled the World: Andrew Wakefield’s War on Vaccines”, which I had the pleasure of reading before today’s debate. He expertly demonstrates the lies, the bad science, the personal ambition and everything in between that drives this well-funded and well-organised movement, which has ulterior motives to the ones it claims publicly. Because of the anti-vax movement, children are now dying from illnesses that they could easily have been prevented from contracting, such as measles, mumps and rubella, which is an absolute disgrace.
Jim Shannon MP (Strangford) (DUP)
Vaccinations should be strongly encouraged, and I encourage people to take up their flu jab, the MMR vaccination and others, and to take this Covid-19 vaccine when it comes.
However, it must be a matter of personal choice, and I in no way support punishing those who do not choose to take this vaccine, ever mindful that I want them to take it. I wish that they would, and I hope that we can convince them
The debate centres around the fact that there must be an element of choice, and while the Government have said that vaccination will not be mandated at present, responses such as
“the Government will carefully consider all options to improve vaccination rates, should that be necessary” may pose a question in the minds of some people about whether they will be made to take it. I do not think that they will be, but I will listen to the arguments.
Many people need their concerns addressed and fears dispelled, and I believe this debate is the time to ensure that one option is not enforced vaccination, or a penalty for not being vaccinated, or even a curtailment of activity. Again, it is a point of persuasion.
While I am aware that other nations that may consider immunity passports alongside vaccination, it is my fervent belief that we must not penalise people who remain unconvinced.
I also express my concern over some of those on the internet and social media who promote the opinion—I will be careful how I put this—that the vaccine could be harmful and would be detrimental to health and wellbeing. I gently suggest that we need to listen to the scientists who have the evidence and the knowledge and who can deliver the convincing evidence necessary for people to understand that there should not be a fear. I caution the internet and social media users against the drive that there seems to be to do that.
I understand that there must be a decent uptake for this vaccine to be effective, but I also understand that those who have questions. Reliable information and all the necessary evidence must be made public, so that everyone can weigh up the risks and benefits for themselves. That freedom must be the cornerstone of any discussion of the vaccine.
Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)
I thank the 589 Wycombe constituents who signed the petition.
I want to make 3 points.
First, vaccines are a good thing. I wish to add something said by the deputy chief medical officer, Professor Van-Tam:
“If we can get through phase one” of the priority list—
“and it is a highly effective vaccine and there is very, very high up take, then we could in theory take out 99% of hospitalisations and deaths related to Covid 19.” (theory ??)
That is his estimate ( estimate ??) That is a tremendous thing. I will certainly have a safe and effective vaccine when it is my turn, and I encourage others to do so. However, I will not gainsay those people who wish to refuse a medicine.
That brings me to my 2nd point.
Whatever we may think of other people’s opinions, we cross an ethical boundary if we compel people to take a medicine. It is clear from what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said that there is no question of the Government compelling people to take a vaccine for this disease, and quite right, too.
It is worth remembering that although the infection fatality rate for this disease is considerably worse than flu—I understand it is between 0.5% and 1%.
We are not talking about a 10% infection fatality rate. I dare say, if we were up at an 80% infection fatality rate, we would all support authoritarian measures without too much of a second thought, because such a serious disease would threaten our civilisation. This disease, dreadful as it is, has an infection fatality rate of about 1% overall, so there can be no question of coercing people directly to take the vaccine.
That brings me to the text of the petition, which states:
“I want the Government to prevent any restrictions being placed on those who refuse to have any potential Covid-19 vaccine.”
That goes a little further. That is not about stopping the Government from compelling people to take it; it is about ensuring that those people who, for whatever reason, do not wish to take the vaccine, do not lose their liberties as a consequence. I understand from people better versed in medical ethics that this is known as implicit coercion.
One can imagine a circumstance in which, for example, an airline chose to say to people, “You may not fly until you have had a vaccine.” A restaurant might say, “You cannot come in until you have had the vaccine.” On and on it would go, until reaching a point where unless people have had the vaccine, they cannot live what most of us would consider a normal life, going to restaurants, shops or whatever it may be. To me, that would be totally unacceptable.
Before moving on to why that would be unacceptable, I have to say that it would also be ineffective. There is a difference between a vaccine stopping someone from getting a disease and being killed by it and a vaccine that stops someone shedding the disease on to others. The harm principle in the philosophy of freedom is about constraining people’s liberties so that they do not harm others.
At the moment, a number of businesses that are looking at restricting their customers to those who have been vaccinated have not understood that, actually, we do not yet know whether the vaccine will stop people shedding the disease.
I turn to something that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said in relation to the Pfizer vaccine. When asked how many people will need to be vaccinated before life can return to normal, he said:
“The answer to that is we just do not know. So the trials can tell you if a vaccine is clinically safe and if it’s effective at protecting an individual from the disease. What we can’ know, until we’ve vaccinated a significant proportion of the population, is how much it stops the transmission of the disease.”
I would say to businesses “Please don’t start seeking to restrict your customers’ ability to come and do business with you because they haven’t had the vaccine.”
I can see that Ministers might face a temptation to say, “Let’s allow the acceleration of the roll-out of the vaccine by turning a blind eye to property owners insisting on people being vaccinated before staying in their bed and breakfast, or whatever it might be.” I understand the argument, but I have to say to the Minister, who I am sure understands the argument, that we cross a Rubicon if we say that it is possible to discriminate against people on the basis of their health status. That would be an ethical mistake, which we could regret for a very long time.
For those two reasons—because it is not an effective thing to do, and because it is morally wrong to discriminate against people on the basis of their choice not to take a vaccine—I will stand with the petitioners in asking the Government to prevent any restrictions being placed on people who refuse to have any potential covid-19 vaccine.
I will not give the least succour to the anti-vaxxers, but I say to the Minister that people have all sorts of strange beliefs in this world. If people do not want to take a vaccine, please let us not turn a blind eye to any kind of discrimination against them.
Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)
We can all agree that it is simply not the case that either the UK Government or the Scottish Government have any plans to mandate the covid vaccine and make it compulsory.
Indeed, the Scottish Government—and, I believe, the UK Government—have explicitly said that they will not utilise coercive measures to ensure compliance and increase vaccination rates. We are in a very fortunate position to be able to discuss and debate the roll-out of a vaccine. What a marvel.
I read that 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated with the covid vaccine before we can return to normality, I hope that take-up will be higher than 70% by the time the roll-out is complete.
Qantas airlines has said that it will not carry passengers who cannot prove that they have been vaccinated. We do not know yet if that is a knee-jerk reaction, if Qantas will be a lone voice, or if individual businesses will seek to impose conditions on the public to access their services while the vaccine is rolled out. I honestly doubt that that will happen. It seems unlikely that businesses will be able to legally insist that those whom they employ must be vaccinated.
Nobody denies that people have the right to refuse the vaccine, but insurance companies will surely levy higher premiums for life and travel insurance for those who do not take up the vaccine, because they operate on the basis of risk.
What I have heard from constituents and what I have read is that the overwhelming majority of people want to stop having to worry about this virus. They want an end to the restrictions that we face as soon as that is safely possible.
Many have contacted me—I am sure that I am not alone in the Chamber in saying this—to ask whether, in the roll-out of the vaccine, we could include, as a priority, those who are living with a terminal condition, which makes their vulnerability to the virus very concerning. I share the view that those who are living with a terminal condition ought to be prioritised for receiving the vaccine.
Jim Shannon
The hon. Lady has outlined a concern on behalf of those who have terminal illnesses. The families want to enjoy that bit of time with their loved one as well. We can never ignore their feelings and input into this, either.
Patricia Gibson
Yes. I would expect and hope that anybody whose immune system was compromised would be prioritised in the roll-out. That is important, because those people have to be able to enjoy whatever time they have.
There is a minority—I believe it is a minority—of people who are concerned about the vaccine’s safety and/or efficacy. As we have heard, there is a job to do in convincing them that the vaccine is safe.
However, that may not always be easy, with disinformation and conspiracy theories thriving on the internet. I had no idea there were so many self-styled experts without any medical or scientific expertise expounding their view that the vaccine is not safe, but that is not surprising, given that they are probably the same people who, throughout this entire pandemic, have been perpetuating the myth that the covid-19 virus is some fictional, mythical dark conspiracy. We know that those who expound these bizarre theories are in the minority, but they manage to reach and even convince some people, and they frighten people.
Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)
GPs have raised concerns with us about the new rules being brought in late in the day, so that vaccinations will take twice as long, as patients need to be observed for 15 minutes.
Again, that might be on very good public health grounds, but I am keen to know from the Minister what they are. We know that general practice per designated site has to deliver at least 975 vaccinations over a 7 day period.
Turning to the substance of what these 300,000 people have asked us to discuss, at the root it is about vaccine hesitancy. It is very easy to talk about the anti-vax elements. I am glad that colleagues have not majored on that, because to an extent that is a straw man. Multiple hon. Members made contributions about just how thin the basis for those conspiracy theories or anti-vax sentiments are. We could spend all day deconstructing them and never lose the argument, but that concerns only a very small proportion of the British people.
We know from polling, and from our constituency mailbags, that those people are a very small group indeed. There is a much more significant and noticeable chunk of people—though far from a majority—who are vaccine-hesitant, and entirely reasonably.
There is a pretty broad political consensus against compulsion, coercion or inconveniencing people into submission. I know what our position is as the Opposition, but no one studies what the Government say more closely than we do, and I have never detected a desire for mandatory vaccination in what they are saying.
I hope that business will take the same view.
People’s unwillingness to take the covid-19 vaccine has a knock-on effect on vaccine hesitancy more generally.
Last year, vaccine hesitancy was in the World Health Organisation’s top 10 threats to global health—it was up there with a future pandemic. It is something that we have to address, whether it is related to covid-19 or not.
In Denmark in 2013, false claims in a documentary about the human papillomavirus vaccine led to a decline in uptake of around 90% among some cohorts. Similarly, between 2014 and 2017 in Ireland, vocal attacks on the HPV vaccine from the anti-vaccine lobby led to a drop in uptake from 70% to 50%. These things matter.
What we see through those developments, and through our experiences in this country, is that the best method of countering those views is through proactive, positive health-promoting campaigns. I know that is something the Government are doing, and it is very welcome.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – (Nadhim Zahawi)
I will hopefully address the excellent—as always—speech by my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr Baker). I am grateful to the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson) both for her excellent speech and for her clear confirmation that neither the Scottish Government nor the United Kingdom Government will mandate vaccination at all.
At each point in the pandemic, every decision we have taken has been with the utmost consideration for its impact on our personal freedoms. The petition that we are debating is a matter of great legal and ethical complexity.
Before I address some of those complexities, I will set out the facts.
First, there are currently no plans to place restrictions on those who refuse to have a covid vaccination. As my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington reminded us, we have no plans to introduce so-called vaccine passporting.
Mandating vaccinations is discriminatory and completely wrong, and I urge businesses listening to this debate to not even think about that. I will explain in further detail why that is the wrong thing to do. I put on record my thanks to Professor Karol Sikora, who has many hundreds of thousands of followers, who quoted me and said I eloquently dealt with the issue. We have absolutely no plans for vaccine passporting.
Secondly, cards that were issued after people got their first covid-19 vaccination have been mentioned on social media. Among other details, they contain the date of their second vaccination. That record does not constitute a so-called vaccine passport.
Even if people are vaccinated, they must continue to follow the rules where they are, and keep taking the common-sense steps that are now so familiar to us—washing our hands, covering our face and making space.
Hon. Members have raised many questions about the World Health Organisation and the required international response. The United Kingdom Government have led the way. We could do even more.
Next year, the UK will take up the presidency of the G7, as the hon. Member for Nottingham North mentioned; we will need to deal with anti-vaxxers nationally and internationally. We look forward to working with many nations on that challenge.
Analysis
None of this reassures me, despite ministers repeatedly stating they have no plans for restrictions upon liberties or vaccine passporting – the frequent “warnings” sent to businesses appear to me to be the MPs get out of jail free card – passing the buck to private corporate entities to implement via their terms and conditions of business.
The constant slurs towards so called “anti vaxxers” evidenced clearly their feelings with an especially low blow being aimed at Dr Andrew Wakefield whose only “crime” was to give the many parents of vaccine damaged children a voice.
The most chilling part of all has to be the two references to the World Health Organisation:-
Last year, vaccine hesitancy was in the World Health Organisation’s top 10 “threats to global health”—it was up there with a future pandemic. It is something that we have to address, whether it is related to covid-19 or not.
Next year, the UK will take up the presidency of the G7; we will need to deal with anti-vaxxers nationally & internationally .
Despite the reassuring words from MPs that there will be no of loss of liberty and they are very much pro freedom of choice – I fear in those two paragraphs alone we have our answer don’t you?
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/323442