Further to instant reaction: I have a fair amount of sympathy for Boris, he has been dealt a uniquely bad hand. I also understand that he must have been alarmed by being so ill with Covid himself and that his personal life means that he is responsible for 1 small and 1 near-birth child. It's a tougher call than I can think anyone has ever faced.
That said - he somehow seems to have lost himself. His initial instincts were fine, but now he is kow-towing to others. This version of Covid is generally reported as not so malevolent. When, please tell me someone, will any variation of the virus not result in panic?
Boris has crossed a line here, unfortunately. Once the levers for controlling the population are established - they are not easily relinquished. I'm amazed and baffled that he has given way on the 'passport' thing. I only wish that I went to crowded arenas so I could defy the rules, quite frankly. He's lost the sympathy and co-operation of the majority, I feel.
Either vaccines work - or they don't. If they don't then we will have the sort of strictures that we now have, so these new controls don't make sense to me and I'll ignore them and carry on as normal, just keeping out of the way and out of the way of other people.