London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Wales lawmakers ignore Zoom glitch to force vote on Covid-19 pass mandate, steamroll united opposition

Wales lawmakers ignore Zoom glitch to force vote on Covid-19 pass mandate, steamroll united opposition

In a controversial 28-27 vote, the Welsh Senedd approved the proposal to require Covid-19 passes to enter nightclubs and large venues, ignoring a Tory lawmaker who said he was trying to vote remotely but could not.

The Senedd in Cardiff is currently operating on a hybrid model, with half the lawmakers physically present and the others joining virtually. On Tuesday, the ruling Labour held a vote on the Covid-19 pass proposed by First Minister Mark Drakeford, and prevailed despite the united opposition of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru.


Tory MS Darren Millar tried telling Presiding Officer Elin Jones ahead of the vote that one of their members was “desperately trying to get into Zoom,” but she cut him off.

“No, no, no, no, Darren Millar, we’re holding the vote,” said Jones, reportedly adding that the Senedd has “made every opportunity possible for that named member to get in, including sharing my personal phone.”

The Conservatives said “technical difficulties” prevented MS Gareth Davies of the Vale of Clwyd from voting. Davies had signaled his opposition to the measure earlier in the day on social media, saying he won’t subject his constituents to “a second winter of misery and despair when we've had the best vaccine rollout in the world.”


Had there been a tie, Jones was expected to withdraw the proposal or back further debate. Labour, which is the largest bloc in the Senedd, had already agreed their MS Buffy Williams of Rhondda would abstain from the vote, because the Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies – no relation – was absent due to illness.

Following the vote, a group of protesters gathered outside the Senedd chanting “shame on you” at lawmakers.


The Tories said the vote demonstrates why the hybrid Parliament in Wales must come to an end” and called for such significant votes to be held in person on the Senedd floor, adding that the party remains “steadfastly opposed” to Covid passports.

Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds called it “a dangerous precedent for bad law-making here in Wales and an unnecessary government overreach into our civil liberties without any evidence they will make us all safer.”

Rhun ap Iorwerth of Plaid Cymru defended the hybrid voting, but had issues with the passports, worrying that they could hinder vaccinations.

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) of Wales called the vote a “democratic outrage” and demanded a new one. The passports are a “shambles” that will “cause even more uncertainty for our businesses.”

According to the proposal, which will go into effect on October 11, anyone 16 or older will have to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to enter a nightclub, indoor no-seating events with more than 500 people, outdoor no-seating events with more than 4,000 people, or any event with more than 10,000 people, including sports. The Welsh government also plans to criminalise faking a negative test.

Baroness Eluned Morgan, the Welsh minister for Health and Social Services, said the pass would enable events to continue “through a potentially very difficult and challenging autumn and winter.” The current pass is using a web-based system, but Morgan promised a mobile app “early in 2022.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×