Realizing how controversial his comments could be if they were made public, Johnson then almost immediately retracted them, according to the sources, saying “actually I regret saying it … forget that I have that. said “.
Johnson’s spokespersons have declined to comment on CNN on the matter.
A spokesman for the opposition Labor party told CNN, “The idea that acts of selfishness … have gotten us through this crisis seems very strange: it is difficult to find out where the prime minister is from.”
The timing of these comments could be troubling to the Prime Minister as the European Commission prepares to draft its plans for tighter export controls on Covid-19 vaccines produced in the bloc.
The Brussels vaccine plan is hampered by supply and distribution problems.
The plans are also expected to include new powers that allow the EU to withhold deliveries to countries that do not reciprocally export vaccines to the EU.
Leaders from the 27 EU member states will meet virtually on Thursday to discuss the Commission’s recommendations.
Leaders from Germany and Ireland have already urged caution when it comes to export measures targeting countries.
The UK, which chose not to participate in the EU’s vaccine strategy, has rolled out its program to immunize citizens significantly faster than the rest of the continent. Domestically, this is seen by many as a consequence of Brexit and an example of what can be done now that the country is free from the bureaucratic yoke of the EU.
The European Medicines Agency has been criticized for slow to approve vaccines, so other EU countries have turned to Russia and China to close gaps in vaccine supplies through unilateral purchase agreements.
The UK’s relative success is embarrassing for the EU. Any complaints that the UK is not acting fairly or suggestions for retroactive action can easily be described as a petulance from Brussels, an attempt to blame others for its own failures.
However, Johnson’s greedy comments could be helpful to a Commission trying to unite member states and portray the UK as the bad guy.
Which begs the key question: why did Johnson say this?
Those in attendance at the meeting put forward theories that the Prime Minister was’ clearly joking ‘to a room with friends, having spent the entire meeting’ praising AstraZeneca for not pursuing profit ‘, on suggestions he’ spoke in a typical language. Boris Rambly Way “and stumbled upon how the opposition left Labor party opposes any private investment in the National Health Service.
“He was talking, I think, and then suddenly remembered that he was prime minister,” a lawmaker present at the meeting told CNN.
However, there is no denying that the timing of his comments is bad.
The vaccine rollout was a rare success in Johnson’s response to the pandemic.
The UK still has the highest death toll from coronavirus in Europe.
Anything that dents the vaccination program and slows down his plans to get the British out of jail could seriously harm the Prime Minister and his government at a time when they can’t afford a heavy blow – least of all from the European Union.