Boris Johnson warned EU vaccine blockade risked pensioners’ lives in ‘spicy’ seven-hour showdown

BORIS Johnson warned the EU's vaccine blockade risked the lives of British OAPs during a 'spicy' seven-hour showdown with Ursula von der Leyen.

In what was described as his 'Falklands moment', the PM saved the UK's vaccine rollout during a series of late-night calls with the president of the European Commission.

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And he forced the bloc to back down on its bid to stop jab supplies reaching Britain.

The PM reportedly clinched victory after reportedly giving a grave warning that blocking jabs would result in the deaths of British grandparents.

Ms von der Leyen ditched plans to stop 3.5million doses of the Pfizer jab from reaching the UK after the fiery talks.

It comes as:

• Experts say the vaccines are already beginning to ease the pandemic's grip on the UK
• But despite that, social distancing is set to be in place for a year to come
• Workers at a testing centre were filmed 'boozing and fighting'
• '650,000' pubs and restaurants 'could collapse' if lockdown isn't eased on April 1
• Secondary school pupils may be told to test themselves for Covid at home

'FALKLANDS MOMENT'

While a single vaccination gives some protection from coronavirus, both are needed to achieve the maximum impact.

Tory MPs were thrilled with the PM's victory, with one describing the EU's surrender as Mr Johnson's "Falklands moment".

The backbencher said: "This could be Boris' Falklands moment… Ministers have played a blinder."

MPs on both sides of the Brexit divide also heralded Mr Johnson's efforts.

One Remainer reportedly said: ";If this had happened in 2016, I would have voted to Leave without blinking."

But Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster was less diplomatic, branding the EU's move an "incredible act of hostility". 

This morning, politicians from across the spectrum united to condemn the EU's move - while the Irish Taoiseach admitted he had no idea of the plans until they were made public.

The row over vaccines exploded on Friday evening when Brussels said it would trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

It would have created a hard border on the island of Ireland – along with other measures to stop Pfizer vaccine supplies reaching Britain.

Mr Johnson called an emergency meeting at No10 to decide the UK's response, before speaking with the Commission President just before 10pm.

He is said to have set out his demands in the calls, warning Ms von der Leyen her actions could threaten the Irish peace process, the reports.

The two leaders spoke again at 10.30pm and the PM warned the EU chief that her actions could deny millions of vulnerable Brits their second Pfizer injections - and may risk lives.

Ms von der Leyen then agreed to abandon the jab blockade in a screeching U-turn, issuing a climbdown message shortly after.

She wrote on Twitter: "Constructive talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson tonight.

"We agreed on the principle that there should not be restrictions on the export of vaccines by companies where they are fulfilling contractual responsibilities."

Speaking of the momentous calls, a No10 spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister spoke to EU Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen.

"He expressed his grave concerns about the potential impact which the steps the EU has taken today on vaccine exports could have."

This morning, ex PM Tony Blair was among the political figures to speak out against the EU's would-be blockade.

He told Sophy Ridge on Sky the "unacceptable" plans were "very foolish", adding: "It's very important for people in Europe, and here too, to understand the reason why Britain is so far ahead on vaccine is not just because AstraZeneca is developed here UK, but because we concluded contracts faster than European Commission."

The UK is ten to 12 weeks ahead of the EU when it comes to inoculations, he said.

Meanwhile, Ireland's prime minister Micheál Martin said people had been "blindsided" by the plans.

"The Commission issued public announcement, and that's when we first became aware of it," he said.

However, he said he doesn't believe the move was made out of spite, telling BBC's Andrew Marr: "It certainly wasn't act of hostility."

And Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the EU has now guaranteed future stocks of the Pfizer vaccine.

She also said the UK must stick to its vaccination schedule rather than prioritise teachers in a Sky interview.

"The issue is that for every person you vaccinate who isn't in the most vulnerable group, that's somebody in the most vulnerable group who isn't getting their vaccine and who is more likely to die in the next few weeks and months," she said.

"I just don't think that's right.

"That's the decision made by the independent committee that we are going to vaccinate first the over-70s and those in the most vulnerable group, and then the over 50s."

Elsewhere, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said on Saturday afternoon the EU "recognises they made a mistake" and "stepped back" following the conversation between the two leaders.

He said: "We're confident, we have assurances, that the supply that we have procured, the supply that we have paid for, is going to be delivered."

And Dominic Raab said he felt "reassured" that the EU has "no desire to to block suppliers fulfilling contracts for vaccine distribution to the UK".

The Foreign Secretary tweeted yesterday afternoon: "The world is watching and it is only through international collaboration that we will beat this pandemic."

It is believed that the Government was well-prepared for a potential vaccine block and had already drawn up contingency plans to break any EU blockade, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The paper reports that supplies of the Pfizer jab could have been airlifted out of the continent under a "vaccine security exercise" adapted from plans for a No-Deal Brexit.

It comes as a record-breaking 598,389 people received at least one dose of the vaccine yesterday.

Of that figure, 549,943 were given in England.
 
A further 25,299 jabs were administered in Wales and 23,055 in Scotland.