Leaders in Lockdown: How does the West Midlands come back from the Covid crisis?
Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, tells to us about the regional impact of coronavirus in our exclusive #LeadersinLockdown interview
Last updated 19th Mar 2021
"My own view is that [vaccine passports] will come."
The Mayor of the West Midlands has told us people may have to prove they've had a coronavirus vaccine before entering events and venues in future. It's something Andy Street's been telling us as part of our exclusive #LeadersInLockdown interview into the effects the pandemic has had on the region.
The "passport" would be like a certificate to prove you've had your vaccination. It's something the Prime Minister has launched a review into it as part of the roadmap out of lockdown.
Speaking to us, the Mayor said he'd support the idea in the West Midlands; "...I think in time if you want to go to a big public event...you'll probably have to show that you've recently either been vaccinated or had a negative test. My own view is that that will come."
"All the progress in jobs that's been made in those three years has been lost in one."
On the topic of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the West Midlands, The Mayor tell us it's set the regional economy back by £11.5 billion in the last 12 months. In the same time period it's also lead to the loss nearly 100,000 jobs.
We've been putting questions to him from members of the public who are concerned about the devastating impact the pandemic has had on communities in the West Midlands.
In our interview with him, the Mayor told us; "In the three years to the end of 2019, 97,000 more jobs have been created across the West Midlands. It looks as though the increase already in claimants is 95,000."
We'll be talking to Mayor, Andy Street, more over the next few days about the impact of Covid-19 on the West Midlands. You can watch the whole interview here;