Exclusive: Covid passport trials to begin at UK events within weeks

Covid passports are set to be trialled at events in Britain within weeks, The Telegraph can reveal, as the Government pushes ahead with the idea despite a growing rebellion by MPs.

New details of around a dozen pilot schemes for safely opening large events will be announced in the coming days, with plans to trial Covid certification checks. The FA Cup final, an FA Cup semi-final, the League Cup final and the World Snooker Championship are taking part, with the Brit Awards also in discussions.

People going to the events will be asked to take a Covid test to gain entry and another after attendance so that any spreading of the virus can be monitored. Government scientists are closely involved in designing the pilots and will watch everything from crowd flows to ventilation systems to learn lessons about running large events.

Multiple government sources involved in the planning told The Telegraph it was hoped that Covid passports – producing a certificate showing your virus status – will feature in some pilots.

The events will run throughout April and May, and ministers want enough conclusions to be drawn for the reopening of large events to be able to happen from as early as mid-June.

While events in April will require a negative Covid test to gain entry, it is hoped some of the pilots in May can trial an updated NHS app which shows whether someone has had a jab, negative test or antibodies – what has been described a Covid passport.

The announcement will be another indication that the Government is pushing ahead with possibly allowing people to show Covid status for social activities, even with no final decisions taken.

However, a backlash is brewing in the Commons, with more than 70 MPs putting their names to a statement opposing the idea. They include around 40 Tories – a figure that will alarm Conservative whips, given the government majority in the Commons of roughly 80 seats – as well as around 20 Labour MPs and 10 Lib Dem MPs.

The statement they backed said: "We oppose the divisive and discriminatory use of Covid status certification to deny individuals access to general services, businesses or jobs."

The former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, the ex-shadow chancellor, have also signed.

The move comes after Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, told The Telegraph he thought the "British instinct" would be against Covid passports once the pandemic eases. Sir Keir said there were no easy answers and he would only decide whether to oppose once detailed proposals had been published.

On Thursday, Boris Johnson repeated his interest in Covid passports being used domestically if they allowed for checks on jabs, negative tests and antibodies. Mr Johnson said it could help "give maximum confidence to business and to customers here in the UK", adding: "Those three things working together will be useful for us as we go forward."

Using pilots for some large events to test safe reopening was announced in February, but new details of which events are involved and how it will work are expected within days.

The Telegraph has learned that the organisers of the Brit Awards, the music awards show that takes place on May 11, are in talks about being involved, which would mean the return of an in-person audience. Talks are ongoing as all stakeholders are being consulted, and it is touch and go whether it will be included in the first pilots.

A spokesman for The Brit Awards confirmed the interest, saying that "we hope this year's show can be part of the pilot scheme", but stressing that no final decision had been taken.

The pilots will monitor all aspects of the safe reopening of large events including the use of Covid tests, social distancing and – when the NHS app is ready for trials – Covid passports.

The FA Cup semi-final between Leicester and Southampton, the League Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham and the FA Cup final, all at Wembley Stadium, will be involved in the pilot scheme.

Brent Council, the London authority covering Wembley, wrote to residents this week asking them to register interest in attending those first two games. The council said each attendee has to return a negative lateral flow Covid test 24 hours before the game and show proof to gain entry, plus take a PCR test at home afterwards.

A government source stressed there was still time for changes to the pilot plan to be made before announcements from Mr Johnson on Monday.