Sturgeon says Covid passports might be only way to avoid fresh lockdown

Nicola Sturgeon today warned Covid passports might be the only way to avoid a fresh lockdown this winter as she faced anger over lack of detail on the rules.

The SNP leader admitted the certification system for nightclubs and other events due to come into force in Scotland from October 1 was not a 'magic wand'.

But she insisted it might 'provide us with the ability to get through the winter' without having to reimpose restrictions, amid an expected resurgence of coronavirus cases.

The grim signal came as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden refused to rule out extending Covid passports in England beyond nightclubs.

Despite the existing proposals already coming under fierce fire from Tory MPs, Mr Dowden said: If there is a need to further extend that certification according to the public health need we will look at doing so.' 

Ms Sturgeon's plan passed Holyrood yesterday despite objections from opposition parties - including the Scottish Tories, who are taking a different stance to Boris Johnson.

There has been criticism of the vague arrangements, with no definition yet of what constitutes a 'nightclub' and the onus on businesses to enforce the rules.

Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Sturgeon said: 'Vaccine certification is not a magic wand, more than any other restriction is a magic wand, but it may provide us with the ability to get through the winter, keep venues like nightclubs and big events operational rather than having to close them for periods again, while helping to keep people safer.

'We know that while vaccines don't eradicate the risk of transmission, they do significantly reduce the chance of transmission.'

She accused the Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and Labour of 'opposition for opposition's sake'.

'Douglas Ross is in the bizarre, and it's for him to explain this, position where had he been voting at Westminster yesterday – because remember the UK

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