Liberal Democrats slam Plaid Cymru for ‘U-turn’ on Covid passes
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have criticised Plaid Cymru after they reversed their vote against Covid passes in October to vote for their extension last night.
Plaid Cymru had voted against bringing in the passes in October, but the vote passes anyway after a Conservative Senedd Member failed to vote over Zoom.
However last night Plaid Cymru backed the extension of the passes to theatres and cinemas, saying that there was now further evidence that they were needed.
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds however said that the vote showed that Plaid Cymru would only “stand up for liberal values and civil liberties when it suits them best”.
“In their U-turn Plaid Cymru have also shown us today that they will only stand up for liberal values when it suits them politically,” she said.
“The facts on the ground have not changed at all since the last vote has been held. Unless Plaid Cymru knows something the rest of us don’t, there is no reason they should have changed their mind.”
‘Stronger evidence’
Speaking in the Senedd, Plaid Cymru’s Health Minister said that he had based the party’s decision on research in The Lancet as well as speaking to scientific advisors.
He said that they were still concerned that the Covid passes were based on self-certification for the results of lateral flow tests, and that they had voted against in October in the hope of seeing a “stronger model” but that what was implemented was “better than nothing”.
“But if the Government does feel, for example, that we need to make the case for extending Covid passes further in the future, something that could offer further challenges in terms of implementation, then we will again insist that the evidence is stronger again,” he said.
Jane Dodds also criticised the Welsh Conservatives, saying that it was “utterly hypocritical” that they were “defending civil liberties and evidence-based policy when their Party is currently trying to push through voter ID against all evidence showing that it is ineffective and unnecessary”.
Speaking in the Senedd, the Conservatives’ health spokesperson Darran Millar said that they had warned that the introduction of COVID passports in Wales would set a “dangerous precedent”.
“Vaccine passports are not a route out of restrictions, they are restrictions,” he said. “They should not be expanded into other premises when they should never have been introduced or put on the table in the first place. Vaccine passports are coercive, ineffective and anti-business; they limit our freedoms but they do not limit the spread of Covid-19.”
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Im very pleased Plaid have changed their position on this issue. A better question is why did Plaid oppose them in the first place?
So we’re saying covid passes prevent infection?
All I say is you will deserve everything that’s coming to you.
Let’s hope your not a business owner or house owner.
Plaid said they voted for it this time because of the strong evidence, oops the evidence they still haven’t shown us.
This will only stop when we decid to stop it.
If they did a “u-turn” to keep people safer after finding out new information on the matter, then I don’t see the problem. Aren’t you allowed to adapt your position in politics anymore?
Should see how well they are doing in Lithuania, because that is your future.
Dodds obviously doesnt understand that covid 19 doesnt care about ‘liberal values’ – and she obviously doesnt care if this dangerous virus is allowed to infect people and spread in places like cinemas and theatres. But last night’s vote in the senedd will thankfully ensure there’s much less likelihood of that happening in such venues now. Indeed last night’s vote means places like night clubs and theatres will now be able to remain open in Wales this winter. Dodds is also clearly unaware that covid passes are now becoming the norm in the EU and around the world
Becoming the norm? Because of vaccine passes there is mass protesting across Europe, you should check out Lithuania and how people unable to work and shop because of vaccine passes, people are locked out of society.
Death from Covid locks people out of society
I am interested to note that the Liberal Democrats can also “stand up for liberal values and civil liberties when it suits them best”.
Carrying a concealed firearm in a public space : bad
Not caring if you carry a life threatening virus into a crowded space: good
Jane needs to be very careful of lying down with flea ridden dogs like Matthew Elliott, founder of Conservative Friends of Russia, a Putinbot.
Interesting to see that none of my 7 downvoters, answered the question of why they changed their mind?!?
Well done to Plaid for looking at the evidence and changing their vote accordingly. Nothing wrong with that. As Richard Wyn Jones has pointed out, the LibDems are now an irrelevance in Wales.
What evidence???
Think it would be better if they show us the evidence.
If you believe they have any , then you comment is right.
Lone wolf Lib Dem Jane Dodds shouldn’t throw stones. Plaid wanted additional scientific evidence regarding any extension of Covid passes . It’s now there, so I cannot see any issue.. And it’s not a U-turn but a reevaluation due to additional information. But she’s got a short memory concerning U-turns. The Lib Dems reneged on so many promises when last in office, including their bare faced lie of scrapping tuition fees. In fact they increased them to £9000. Hypocrisy personified! Her party also aided and abetted the Conservatives by terrorising the working poor , disabled and unemployed with their draconian… Read more »
Why do the majority of posters on the subject of this virus seem to vilify those that have decided not to take up the offer of vaccinations. Do they think they are immune and cannot carry and transmit because they have been vaccinated. The vast majority of the vaccinated think whoopee back to normal no precautions needed off we go.
This is my opinion but it looks like the vaccinated are contributing a lot to the spread of this virus.