Boris Johnson rules out engaging in ‘blockades of any kind’ after EU vaccine threat with blockade

The Prime Minister said he was encouraged by some of the things he has heard from the continent.
Boris Johnson holding a vial of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine
PA

Boris Johnson said the UK does not believe in engaging in “blockades of any kind” as he ruled out the possibility of Britain engaging in a tit-for-tat vaccine war with the European Union.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen sparked fury after saying the EU had the power to “forbid” exports in an interview with a German newspaper group.

The warning reflects growing frustration on the continent that the EU is not getting the supplies it expected from the British-Swedish manufacturer.

The Prime Minister told a press conference on Tuesday: “We’ll continue to work with European partners to deliver the vaccine rollout.

“All I can say is we in this country don’t believe in blockades of any kind of vaccines or vaccine materials.

“It’s not something that this country would dream of engaging in and I’m encouraged in some of the things I’ve heard from the continent in the same sense.”

Addressing Tory MPs later, a source confirmed to the PA news agency that Mr Johnson said capitalism and “greed” had been behind the UK’s vaccine drive success, in comments first reported by The Sun.

Boris Johnson speaks during a Downing Street press conference on Tuesday
PA Wire

However, the Conservative Party leader is understood to have repeatedly asked those at the 1922 Committee meeting of backbenchers to forget he used the term as he praised AstraZeneca for supplying the Oxford vaccine at cost.

Diplomatic efforts have tried to ward off a possible ban on vaccine exports.

Across the EU, just over 10 per cent of adults have received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine but in the UK the figure is over 53 per cent.

Downing Street did not deny reports that AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured at the Halix facility in the Netherlands could be shared with the EU to prevent an export ban.

Adults who have received Covid-19 vaccine
PA Graphics

Former ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow is believed to be among the advisers dispatched to Brussels to try to negotiate a solution.

During today’s Downing Street briefing, the Prime Minister also cautioned that Britain must be “very wary” of the potential for a third wave, when asked by a member of the public how the Government is planning to stop the spread from Europe into the UK.

He said: “On the European continent we are seeing distinct signs of a third wave and they’re taking steps to abate that, to deal with that.

“And we in the UK have very tough measures at our borders already.”

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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