Liberty responds to Scottish Parliament approving vaccine passports

Liberty has responded after the Scottish Parliament voted to approve a motion that will make the use of vaccine passports mandatory for entry to nightclubs and major events.

Jodie Beck, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Liberty, said: “We all want to keep each other safe and Liberty has always supported reasonable and proportionate measures to combat COVID. But vaccine passports are not a solution – they mean more coercion and division.

“Vaccine passports risk creating a two-tier society, and it is those people already marginalised whose rights and autonomy will be most affected.

“A key way of maximising take up of the coronavirus vaccines is better education to support and empower people to give informed consent, with a full understanding of the risks and benefits to themselves and others.

“Instead of even more coercion and threats in the form of vaccine passports and mandatory vaccinations, politicians across the UK should be ensuring wide access to vaccines, and providing the support and resources needed to protect everyone.”