Lib Dems demand recall of parliament for vote on ‘deceitful’ and ‘botched’ vaccine passports plan
The Liberal Democrats are campaigning for parliament to be recalled from summer recess to debate proposals to introduce the use of vaccine passports.
The party’s leader Sir Ed Davey has written a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson accusing his government of “committing to vaccine passports by stealth” which he warned was “a recipe for chaos and dissent”.
Sir Ed added that the use of such a scheme would be “a grotesque misuse of government diktat” and said MPs must be brought back from their summer holidays immediately to vote on the matter.
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Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said MPs should be recalled from their summer holidays to discuss and vote on the issue
The PM has said individuals will need to be fully vaccinated to go to nightclubs from the end of September and that proof of a negative COVID test will no longer be sufficient.
And the prospect of people having to prove their COVID-19 status to access a range of other venues has been raised in recent weeks with universities, music events and sporting fixtures all having been mentioned as possible other settings for certification.
Sir Ed said businesses will suffer greatly under the proposals.
“It is deeply unsettling to see you and your government committing to vaccine passports by stealth. This goes against all our country’s traditions and is utterly deceitful,” his letter published on Friday states.
“Parliament must be recalled immediately.
“How businesses or indeed even churches will be expected to decide who can or cannot pass through their doors has not been made clear.
“This is a recipe for chaos and dissent on many doorsteps throughout England.
Sporting events have been mentioned as other areas where vaccine passports may be required
“It would be a grotesque misuse of government diktat to introduce ID cards without any scrutiny, let alone a vote of MPs.
“The government owes this to all those individuals and businesses who will suffer as a result of your rushed and botched scheme.
“The nation is calling out for leadership, not deception. It is time to step up, to own your decision on COVID ID cards and put it to a vote to parliament. You must recall parliament now.”
A number of Conservative MPs have told Sky News they do not think the government will follow through and actually introduce domestic vaccine passports.
More than 40 Conservatives recently signed a declaration from the campaign group Big Brother Watch expressing opposition to the idea.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories, told Sky News that vaccine passports for domestic use would be a “massive step and a misguided one”.
Some Tory MPs contacted by Sky News say they think the prime minister is bluffing in a bid to increase vaccine uptake, while others expressed their belief that the government would pull any vote on the matter if there is a realistic prospect of them losing.
Boris Johnson is facing a backlash from some of his own MPs over the issue
“I don’t think they will,” Wellingborough MP Peter Bone said when asked if he thinks the government will follow through and introduce vaccine passports.
He added that he was against vaccine passports because they are “identity papers by the back door” and risked creating a “two class society”.
Fellow Conservative Craig Mackinlay, meanwhile, said he thinks the government is adopting a “carrot and stick approach” to increase vaccine take-up.
“I hope that is as far as these plans go,” the MP for South Thanet said.
And Andrew Bridgen described vaccine passports as “completely unnecessary, bureaucratic and unworkable”, adding that they would “create a divided society”.
The Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire accused the government of engaging in “sabre-rattling” as part of a “crude attempt to coerce young people to take the vaccine”.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he ‘can see a case for vaccine passports’ for mass events
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he “can see a case for vaccine passports” for mass events, but not for “day-to-day routine”.
Asked whether people should have to prove they have had two vaccine doses before returning to the office, Sir Keir told reporters: “I don’t agree with that.
“I can see a case for vaccine passports, alongside testing, when it comes to big sporting events or mass events, certainly for international travel.
“But for day-to-day routine – access to the office, access to health services or dentistry or even food – I don’t agree with vaccine passports for day-to-day access.”
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He added: “We can’t have a situation where someone can’t have access to a health service or dentistry or supermarkets – that is something I don’t think anybody could seriously countenance, so we have to make this distinction.
“But we need to be pragmatic, we need to look at whatever the government puts on the table when it comes to longer term events, mass events etcetera.”
A government spokesperson told Sky News on Thursday: “There has been no change to our plans to introduce vaccine certification in September.
“The government is focussed on protecting the public and reducing the impact of the virus, including mandating COVID certification in certain settings.
“Vaccines are the best possible way to protect you and your family against the virus and we strongly encourage people to come forward.”
The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will propose a framework for implementing US stablecoin laws later this month, according to its acting chair, Travis Hill.
“The FDIC has begun work to promulgate rules to implement the GENIUS Act; we expect to issue a proposed rule to establish our application framework later this month,” Hill said in prepared testimony to be delivered on Tuesday to the House Financial Services Committee.
He added the agency will also have a “proposed rule to implement the GENIUS Act’s prudential requirements for FDIC-supervised payment stablecoin issuers early next year.”
President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act in July, which created oversight and licensing regimes for multiple regulators, with the FDIC to police the stablecoin-issuing subsidiaries of the institutions it oversees.
The FDIC insures deposits in thousands of banks in the event that they fail, and under the GENIUS Act, it will also be tasked with making “capital requirements, liquidity standards, and reserve asset diversification standards” for stablecoin issuers, said Hill.
Federal agencies, such as the FDIC, publish their proposed rules for public feedback, and they then review and respond to the input, if necessary, before publishing a final version of the rules, a process that can take several months.
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The Treasury, which will also regulate some stablecoin issuers, including non-banks, began its implementation of the GENIUS Act in August and finished a second period of public comment on its implementation proposal last month.
FDIC is working on tokenized deposit guidelines
Hill said in his remarks that the FDIC has also considered recommendations published in July by the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.
“The report recommends clarifying or expanding permissible activities in which banks may engage, including the tokenization of assets and liabilities,” Hill said.
“We are also currently developing guidance to provide additional clarity with respect to the regulatory status of tokenized deposits,” he added.
Fed helping regulators with stablecoin rules
The Federal Reserve’s vice supervision chair, Michelle Bowman, will also testify on Tuesday that the central bank is “currently working with the other banking regulators to develop capital, liquidity, and diversification regulations for stablecoin issuers as required by the GENIUS Act.”
Bowman added, according to her prepared remarks, that “we also need to provide clarity in treatment on digital assets to ensure that the banking system is well placed to support digital asset activities.”
“This includes clarity on the permissibility of activities, but also a willingness to provide regulatory feedback on proposed new use cases,” she said.
The House Finance Committee’s hearing on Tuesday will also see remarks from the heads of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the National Credit Union Administration, which will both have a role in implementing stablecoin rules.
Magazine: Bitcoin vs stablecoins showdown looms as GENIUS Act nears
The Japanese government is reportedly backing plans to introduce a significant reduction in the nation’s maximum tax rate on crypto profits, with a flat rate of 20% across the board.
Japan’s financial regulator, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), first floated the proposed tax changes in mid-November, outlining plans to introduce a bill in early 2026, and now the government and ruling coalition — the political parties in control of Japan’s parliament, the National Diet — are on board.
According to a report from Japanese news outlet Nikkei Asia on Sunday, the new rules aim to align crypto taxation rules with those of other financial products, such as equities and investment funds.
Under the current laws, taxation on crypto trading is included as part of income taxes for individuals and businesses, falling under the category of “miscellaneous income.” The rate ranges from 5% on the lower end of the spectrum to 45% on the high end, with high-income earners potentially on the hook for an additional 10% inhabitant tax.
Meanwhile, assets such as equities and investment trusts are taxed separately, with a flat 20% tax on profits, regardless of the amount.
The tax changes could be a boon for the domestic cryptocurrency market, as the higher tax rates may have deterred potential investors.
According to the Nikkei report, the potential changes to crypto taxation in Japan will be introduced as part of a “solid investor-protection framework” proposed in the FSA’s bill, which aims to amend the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.
The FSA will submit the bill during the regular Diet session in 2026, as it pushes for greater oversight of crypto trading, including a ban on dealing with non-public information and stricter investment disclosures.
Japan finally set for crypto tax change after long fight
The Japan Blockchain Association (JBA), the nation’s major crypto-focused non-governmental lobbying group, has been calling for these changes for almost three years.
Related: Bitcoin falls to $84K: Is Japan’s bond market the culprit, or is more at play?
In July 2023, the JBA published a letter to the government on its website, outlining key tax reform requests to support the industry. The letter called for a 20% tax rate that aligns with other investment vehicles.
“This letter requests a review of tax on crypto assets, which is the biggest hurdle for companies operating Web3 businesses in Japan and a disincentive for the public to actively own and use crypto assets,” the letter reads.
While it is unclear if the JBA had a direct influence on the FSA’s thinking, the financial watchdog did start warming up to the idea and pushing for reform in September 2024.
Magazine: Koreans ‘pump’ alts after Upbit hack, China BTC mining surge: Asia Express
Sir Keir Starmer has warned China poses “real national security threats to the United Kingdom”.
But the prime minister also described China as a “nation of immense scale, ambition and ingenuity” and a “defining force in technology, trade and global governance”.
“The UK needs a China policy that recognises this reality,” he added in a speech at the Guildhall in London.
“Instead, for years we have blown hot and cold.
“So our response will not be driven by fear, nor softened by illusion. It will be grounded in strength, clarity and sober realism.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer giving his speech. Pic: Reuters
Describing the absence of engagement with China – the world’s second-biggest economy – as “staggering” and “a dereliction of duty”, Sir Keir said: “This is not a question of balancing economic and security considerations. We don’t trade off security in one area, for a bit more economic access somewhere else.
“Protecting our security is non-negotiable – our first duty. But by taking tough steps to keep us secure, we enable ourselves to cooperate in other areas.”
Sir Keir’s remarks come after MPs and parliamentarians were warned last month of new attempts to spy on them by China.
And they follow the collapse of a prosecution of two people suspected of spying on behalf of China.
That case led to controversy over how the government under Labour responded to the Crown Prosecution Service’s requests for evidence.
Speech at the annual Lady Mayor’s Banquet. Pic: Reuters
At the time, Sir Keir sought to blame the previous Conservative government for the issues, which centred on whether China could be designated an “enemy” under First World War-era legislation.
Meanwhile, Sky News understands the prime minister is set to approve plans for a controversial Chinese “super embassy” in central London.
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A final decision on the planning application for the former Royal Mint site near the Tower of London is due on 10 December, after numerous previous delays.
Sir Keir is also understood to be preparing for a likely visit to China in the new year.
Since he was elected last year, Sir Keir has been active on the world stage, trumpeting deals with the US, India and the EU and leading the “coalition of the willing” in support of Ukraine.
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PM preparing for likely China visit
But he has also faced criticism from his opponents, who accuse him of spending too much time out of the UK attending international summits rather than focusing on domestic issues.
Sir Keir offered a defence of his approach, describing it as “the biggest shift in British foreign policy since Brexit” and “a decisive move to face outward again”.
While saying he would “always respect” the Brexit vote as a “fair, democratic expression”, he said the way the UK’s departure from the EU had been “sold and delivered” was “simply wrong”.
He said: “Wild promises were made to the British people and not fulfilled. We are still dealing with the consequences today.”
In his speech on Monday, the prime minister accused opposition politicians of offering a “corrosive, inward-looking attitude” on international affairs.
Sir Keir Starmer. Pic: Reuters
Taking aim at those who advocate leaving the European Convention on Human Rights or NATO, he said they offered “grievance rather than hope” and “a declinist vision of a lesser Britain”.
Sir Keir said: “Moreover, it is a fatal misreading of the moment, ducking the fundamental challenge posed by a chaotic world – a world which is more dangerous and unstable than at any point for a generation, where international events reach directly into our lives, whether we like it or not.”
He added: “In these times, we deliver for Britain by looking outward with renewed purpose and pride, not by shrinking back. In these times, internationalism is patriotism.”
Responding to the prime minister’s speech, shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “From China’s continued flouting of economic rules to transnational repression of Hong Kongers in Britain, Starmer’s ‘reset’ with Beijing is a naive one-way street, which puts Britain at risk while Beijing gets everything it wants.
“Starmer continues to kowtow to China and is captivated by half-baked promises of trade.
“Coming just days after the latest Chinese plot to interfere in our democracy was exposed, his love letter to the Chinese Communist Party is a desperate ploy to generate economic growth following his budget of lies and is completely ill-judged.
“While China poses a clear threat to Britain, China continues to back Iran and Russia, and plots to undermine our institutions. Keir Starmer has become Beijing’s useful idiot in Britain.”
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