Murdo Fraser MSP has hit out at the ‘small minded’ mentality of the SNP Government which has seen their proposed Covid vaccine passport scheme decried before it is even launched.
The Scottish Conservative politician says the initiative, which has led to several of his constituents saying they will be unable to gain access to facilities in France, sums up the way the SNP has dealt with the Covid crisis.
The SNP Government will launch digital Covid certificates in September for outbound international travel, which will have a QR code. However, many countries, including France, have already stressed they will not be acceptable, much to the anger of many Scots who have booked flights abroad.
Commenting, Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “The First Minister will never admit it, but she has deliberately steered the country on a different route from the UK Government throughout the pandemic, from lockdown rules to Covid levels, including the illogical ‘Level 0.’
“She has delayed the country coming out of lockdown and now we have this situation with the digital Covid certificates, whereby countries like France will not accept the QR codes from Scotland. This small-minded attitude – which is primarily just to be different from England - has resulted in hundreds if not thousands, of Scots who have patiently stuck by the Covid rules now not being able to travel abroad, or if they do, being unable to gain access to facilities such as theatres, museums and cafes.”
He continued: “Several of my constituents have said they find it galling to think that they are being disadvantaged by this Scottish Covid passport. If they lived in England, they would receive the QR code from the NHS which is acceptable abroad.
“This digital passport scheme appears to be totally unnecessary and a complete waste of resources.”
