“I’ve never liked the idea of saying to people, ‘You must show your papers’ … to do what is just an everyday activity,” British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said yesterday.

“We’ve looked at it properly and whilst we should keep it in reserve as a potential option, I’m pleased to say that we will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports.”

Javid’s comments were just part of a general further relaxation of Covid restrictions planned by Boris Johnson’s government following on Britain’s Freedom Day in July.

Practical restrictions will remain, such as requiring people to self-isolate if they test positive, and a programme of vaccine booster shots has been foreshadowed, but many of the measures bought in during the early, panicked stages of the pandemic are set to go.

The plan to abandon vaccine passports will only operate in England proper — the Welsh and Scottish Assemblies will make their own decisions — and there are some reports that companies that choose to require vaccine certificates will be able to continue doing so.

But the language of liberty and confidence coming from Javid and Johnson stands in stark contrast with the punitive and pusillanimous platitudes spouted by our premiers, their ministers and CHOs — and Scott Morrison’s general lack of any beliefs whatsoever.