UKIP candidate for Highlands and Islands, Robert Stephenson, has slammed tentative proposals aired by the deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam who said the government is holding a review into the introduction of vaccine passports. These would be issued to people inoculated against COVID-19 via a physical document or on an app enabling access to venues such as bars and restaurants, stadiums, cinemas and to travel abroad. Nicola Sturgeon gave an ambivalent response stating she would ‘never support something that deepens social inequalities’ or ‘took away people’s civil liberties’ based on their medical history, but said people need to keep an open mind to the possibility.

UKIP is contesting the forthcoming elections to the Scottish Parliament, scheduled for 6 May 2021. Robert said: “So called vaccine passports are a dreadful idea. Obviously if some countries want to impose proof of vaccination as a condition of entry that is their prerogative. However, their use domestically cannot be countenanced. It would create a two tier society between those who have been vaccinated and those who have not. The proposals should be seen as an attempt to mandate vaccines by the back door. Medicine in this country has always operated under the principle of informed consent rather than coercion. It is not even yet proven that the vaccines prevent transmission, so why exclude the unvaccinated from society?”

"I urge the First Minister to quit beating around the bush and say no to vaccine passports. The government must scrap the review into imposing such a monstrous imposition on the public. The implications for personal privacy, data security and civil liberties are severe. It should be completely ruled out now, tomorrow and forever" said Robert.

Robert went on to say: "UKIP is a libertarian party and we will campaign fervently against the emerging public health dictatorship. A vote for UKIP will be a vote for liberty and a return to normalcy.”