AN apparent shelving of plans to bring in vaccine passports for entry to pubs and clubs has been welcomed.

Minister were mooted to be working on plans to bring in passports to allow people's vaccination status to be read upon entry to crowded venues.

But health secretary Sajid Javid has appeared to rule out such steps in a move welcomed by Barrow's MP Simon Fell.

Mr Javid told the BBC plans to introduce vaccine passports would not go ahead.

Under the scheme, people would have been required to show proof - whether of double vaccination, a negative Covid test or finishing self-isolating after a positive PCR test - in order to gain entry to clubs and other crowded events.

Reacting, Mr Fell said: " I'm very glad that the government has shelved the plan for vaccine passports - the scheme would have been discriminatory and deeply unfair.

"The best route to seeing society stay open is to maintain good protection from the virus through the vaccines and applying caution.

"We are not a 'papers please' society and nor should we ever become one."

Despite the health secretary's comments the Government has refused to rule out a plan to bring in the measure completely.

Work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey said the introduction of vaccine passports has not been 'ruled out forever'.

The prime minister is due to lead a press conference later today outlining his Covid 'toolbox' to deal with the virus through the winter.