Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi Speaks to T&G on Vaccine Passports, Jabs for 12-15-Year-Olds & More

The vaccines minister Nadim Zahawi has refused to describe the Conservative Party as the party of low tax. He also said that the government would introduce vaccine passports at the end of September and was working out the practicalities.

He said that those aged 12-15 could override their parents' wishes about whether or not to have a vaccination.

He also said that an expected announcement by Chris Whitty on vaccinations for 12-15-year olds may not be next week - in fact it could be weeks.

He was speaking to Tom Newton Dunn and Paul Waugh on Times Radio's T&G programme this morning.

TND: Is the Conservative Party is still a party of low tax?

NZ: "The Conservative Party is the party of fair taxation and making sure that we get, not just the tax rate right, but the tax take right as well because you will know that it is not just focusing on the rate that makes a difference...

TND: it was intriguing there that you didn't tell me what has to be the mantra of the Conservative Party since its very existence 100 years ago: they are no longer the party of low taxation?

NZ: We are the party of fair

TND: Fair but not low...

NZ: Ultimately, what you want to do is make sure that people feel that they're paying fair taxes and that you get the maximum tax take into the coffers to pay for things we want to pay for in terms of this massive ambitious levelling up agenda that we have.

He said the government was working out how best to introduce vaccine passports.

"By the end of September when all 18-year-olds will have had the opportunity to have two doses of the vaccine, [we are] intending to make sure that in those venues where we know, large gatherings especially indoor...We are intending to move ahead, as I said in my statement to the house before recess on using status certification."

He also said that the other chief medical officers may not announce a decision over the vaccination of 12-15-year olds this week:

"They're looking at that in the next few days and weeks"

He said that if vaccination goes ahead for 12-15-year-olds, they could override their parents' wishes "if they're deemed to be competent to make that decision, with all the information available."

"What you essentially do is make sure that the clinicians discuss this with the parents, with the teenager and if they are then deemed to be able to make a decision that is competent, then that decision will go in the favour of what the teenager decides to do."

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