Mark Dolan: Freedom prevails with vax passport U-turn

September, hasn't just seen the late arrival, of warmer temperatures and a spot of sunshine - there appears to have been, the late arrival of common sense too. The hated and divisive idea of Covid vaccine passports, in which you would be required to show your vaccine status for entry into nightclubs ,and other large venues, has been scrapped. This according to health secretary Sajid Javid, known to his friends as The Saj. Well he’s going to make more friends with this decision.

It’s appalling that the supposedly libertarian, freedom-loving Boris Johnson, even threatened this policy. And we should be cautious, given that, the decision to scrap the idea, was followed with the two worst WORDS, in the political lexicon: “for now”. But my view, is that having hesitated to roll out this infrastructure, one that would split our society in two, and link access to certain freedoms and public services to your health status, it's unlikely the government, will revisit this monstrous idea.

This is a triumph for logical, science-based, rational thought, something that has been in short supply, over the last 18 months. The vaccine may help in limiting severe illness and death, but it's now clear it does little to stop transmission of the virus, rendering proof of vaccination for entry into venues utterly pointless. It's also a victory for political pressure. Well done to the Liberal Democrats, their leader Sir Ed Davey and their erstwhile Home Affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael. And well done to that principled handful of Tory backbenchers, that make up the Covid recovery group, including Sir Graham Brady, and Tom Hunt, who joined me for the Big Question on this programme last week.

But most importantly, this is a victory for you. Boris Johnson, always keen to be popular, can't have fancied the public rage from millions of people across this country, if he'd rolled this out. One of you emailed me during the show last week, and said if Boris does this, the Tories are over. Here’s my point, lockdowns have fundamentally damaged this country, which in my view is unforgiveable. But vaccine passports would have fundamentally CHANGED this country, which is unimaginable.

Sadly the majority of people would probably have backed vaccine passports, just as a majority backed lockdowns and mask mandates. Well in my view, the majority are wrong. And it’s ok to say that. Don't forget, that it was once mainstream public and scientific opinion, that the world was FLAT. How’s that working out for you? You CAN be in the minority in an argument, and ultimately, on the right side of it. History will choose the winners and losers here, not SAGE scientists or the mask-loving woke left.

Speaking of the left, vaccine passports have been another missed opportunity for Sir Keir Starmer, an open goal. Months ago, he could have ruled out support for these divisive Covid passports, which would especially count against poorer communities and those from minority groups, among whom vaccine take-up has been lower. So vaccine passports, might arguably have been racist too. This decision to scrap the health pass is an important moment. It’s a defeat for the new normal, and a victory for the old one.

And this is a good news story for the Prime Minister. Pushing back against a chorus of political and scientific voices, Boris Johnson delivered freedom day on the 19th of July, cases fell and he was proved right. Critics called it reckless. In the end it would have been reckless not to. So he must now commit to those famous libertarian values of his, and really start to govern by them. This winter there will be a resurgence of cases and hospitalisations and yes sad deaths. But hundreds of people are dying every day from cancer, heart disease, dementia and diabetes. Those diseases have been ignored for far too long, and must be brought back into sharp focus.

And for those on the left clamouring for more money for the NHS, for social care and to tackle the 12 million strong waiting list, they have to understand that this can only be done with a healthy, growing economy. Every single Covid measure has a health impact, a societal impact and an economic one. Which is why they must never be imposed again. No mask mandates, no lockdowns and no vaccine passports. You shouldn't have to show bits of paper, or your medical status, to access any rights or privileges in this country.

You’ve already GOT a passport – A BRITISH passport. THAT'S where your rights come from. The political battle in the course of this pandemic, has been between freedom and control. With this decision, freedom, is beginning to prevail. This is GB News.