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October 22, 2021 - 10:52am
He’s at it again. For the third time, Tony Blair and his Institute are calling on the Government to introduce Covid passes as “a matter of priority”, asserting that they will reduce cases to a “fraction” of their current rate. With so many things he might be turning his attention to at this time, the former PM’s obsession with vaccine passports is starting to seem odd.
Vaccine passes are no solution to coronavirus transmission. Their proposal rests on the assumption that unvaccinated people are responsible for the spread of coronavirus, and that vaccinated-only gatherings are the only safe space. If drinking, dancing and socialising were limited only to those who have received two doses of a Covid jab, this line of reasoning assumes, we’d get on top of case rates.
This, of course, is nonsense. For one, not only will ‘vaccinated only’ spaces still see coronavirus circulating but they could create an unrealistic sense of invulnerability among those visiting. Secondly, case rates are climbing, despite a vaccine uptake of over 85%. Data published by the UK Health Security Agency suggests that Covid rates are similar between over-18s who have received a Covid vaccine and those who haven’t.
Lateral flow tests, which are currently an option for those presenting their Covid status in Wales, are seen by some as an alternative approach because it bypasses the coercive and discriminatory elements of a vaccine-only pass. This too, however, is a dead-end. The Innova lateral flow tests bought in bulk by the UK have questionable accuracy for healthy, asymptomatic people — that is, the very way they are used for Covid passes. The FDA was scathing about the tests, warning Americans to throw them in the bin rather than use them.
Not only this, but there are already suggestions from the Government that lateral flow tests will not be free forever. At some point people who haven’t been vaccinated (for whatever medical, religious or philosophical reason) will be forced to pay through the nose, just to participate in society.
Against this background, it is not surprising that Covid passes are seen by many as a tool of coercion. Indeed Nicola Sturgeon let it slip that allowing people to take a test instead of showing vaccine status would “let people off the hook” of vaccination. Public health should be based on education, encouragement and support, not exclusion and punishment.
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SubscribeSee Madeleine, you’ve set me off now. Look where the West stands, 30+ years on from Bush War 1. Blair is part of that generation of failed politicians who significantly diminished the Western world. They believe they can change the weather, when in reality our politicians don’t even know the current technological capability of China.
It’s a joke, one that shames every news organisation that swallows their delusions.
Almost 25 years ago, “New Labour” inherited a decent set of books from the previous government, eye-watering profits coming into the Exchequer from Banks and one of the biggest working majorities in Political history. Yet everything they touched turned to mush.
Less than 10 years on from Thatcher but nobody was much interested in what she, or a hyper-active press officer thought about it. And isn’t that how it should be?
Like many other Western politicians, he’s had his time and the repellent ideology to which he still clings judged and dismissed by the electorate, as is the democratic way. This should allow ample opportunity to tend his property portfolio or better still, serve Profumo-style reparations to servicemen, their families and communities damaged by his reign of error.
I am not interested in a single thing that generation of money-grubbing totalitarians have to say about the modern world, broadcast from pulpits in their gated communities. Blair, Clinton, Bush, Obama – any of them. If Roger Waters hadn’t undergone a permanent sense of humour by-pass he would surely re-record Floyd’s “The Fletcher Memorial Home” with updated lyrics for these tyrants.
Blair reigned supreme as PM but still couldn’t land his pet projects of Euro adoption or ID cards. So he starts a “Foundation”, and here we are.
Can we not at least introduce a measure of taxation for these “non-profit” personal vehicles. They are nothing but media schmoozing, back-door political organisations that can’t be bothered with the hard yards of democracy, difficult choices and elections. A total stain on modern democracy.
Love your final paragraph. I cannot understand why Blair, Gates et al are given licence to push their ideas and influence from NGOs. It will diminish democracy if allowed to continue.
Excellent points raised in this article. Why indeed the unseemly push to vaccine passports when it is painfully evident that the covid jab offers neither immunity from infection nor prevents transmission?
The Blair Foundation received $22million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Both are extraordinarily keen on bio-metric information passports, Gates is heavily invested in the vaccine industry.
Worrying that both Blair and Gates seem to wield great influence round at No.10.
Indeed!
Very worrying indeed. Both Johnson and I presume Gates and Blair and certainly Biden quote the Davros (aka as World Economic Forum) quote from Klaus Schwab the leader “Build Back Better”
That mantra is also bleated by Arden, Trudeau etc Yes, very worrying indeed.
There’ something quite tedious about ex-politicians forever spouting their views. Tony – nobody cares what you think anymore, get over it.
I am so tired of people mouthing off about vaccines and vaccine passports. Surely they know by now that those vaccinated can get and can transmit the disease? The decision to spout this nonsense indicates either extreme ignorance …or evil.
Unfortunately those behind spouting this nonsense and earning big money do not share your view as I and many others do.
Yeah also known as Big Pharma assisted by Big Tech and some governments.
Yes… but we haven’t got to “you will own nothing and be happy” yet. They need the digital IDs tied to your digital money to get there. This is the whole point of all this.
Very frightening what these people want to do. You will own nothing but who will own it? Owning nothing also means we think for you and we make all the decisions.
“Why did you sting me?” asked the Frog, “Now we’ll both die.” “I am what I am,” said the Scorpion, “It’s what I do!”
Blair wanted ID cards and so he will get them by another way.
‘Why is Tony Blair obsessed with vaccine passports?’
He has been out to destroy UK all his life, why stop now? The man is evil.
I will never forget how Tony Blair and Gordon Brown offered to take over the leadership of the Covid breakout and guaranteed they had bases all over the world to control it. Mighty suspicious to me. I cannot help thinking they are connected to Davros who harbour a world government desire.
The FDA was scathing about the tests. This might be a sign they actually work.
Lol. This gets very complicated, doesn’t it?
The two dose vaccination passport will be only valid until they decide that the booster shot is mandatory. The fascists discovered the gold mine of coercion, it is COVID, and they will never let it go. Never. Climate change did not exactly work as planned, but now the dumb, submissive and scared are the base of the new resurgence of fascism and there is enough of them, I am afraid, for the fascist to prevail.
The two dose vaccination passport will be only valid until they decide that the booster shot is mandatory. The fascists discovered the gold mine of coercion, it is COVID, and they will never let it go. Never. Climate change did not exactly work as planned, but now the dumb, submissive and scared are the base of the new resurgence of fascism and there is enough of them, I am afraid, for the fascist to prevail.