SUMMER FREEDOM ON HOLD TILL JULY

As jab heroes win gongs, the grim news...

FREEDOM Day is set to be delayed, with the nation having to wait until July 19 before all Covid curbs are eased.

In a move likely to enrage MPs, business leaders and hospitality chiefs, Boris Johnson is preparing to postpone the final stage of his Covid roadmap – which was due on June 21 – by four weeks.

The setback has been prompted by a sharp rise in cases of the Indian variant, and the British Medical Association calling for a delay to allow more people to receive their second jabs.

It came as it was announced that scientists and experts behind Britain’s world-beating vaccine programme will take centre stage in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

STADIUMS will be allowed to ask spectators to prove they have either tested negative for Covid or had the vaccine, ministers will announce on Monday.

A Government review into Covid certification will rule out making it compulsory for venues to make documents a requirement of entry.

But ministers are expected to give organisers the option of asking fans to show status certificates so that big sporting events can go ahead safely this summer. A cross-party group of MPs last night warned so-called Covid passports would ‘disproportionately discriminate’ based on race, religion, age and socio-economic background. William Wragg MP, chairman of the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee, said: ‘We are entirely unconvinced by the case for [Covid passports’] introduction.’ He added: ‘The success of the vaccine rollout and their efficacy calls into question the value of a certification regime. It would be established at great cost for rapidly diminishing returns.

‘Frankly, the Government needs to scrap any idea of introducing Covid passports.

‘They are unnecessary and there is no justification for them in the science and none in logic.’ Cabinet office minister Michael Gove, who is leading the review, previously said the benefits of such a scheme were ‘finely balanced’. The NHS app already allows users to prove their vaccine status. Mr Gove said further changes would soon allow test results to be declared too.