EU accused of ‘almost Trumpian act’ over NI coronavirus vaccines row

A senior Conservative politician has drawn comparisons between the EU and Donald Trump after the bloc was forced to withdraw plans to try to block vaccine supply to Northern Ireland for fear it could be a back door route into the UK. 

The EU had said it would invoke a controversial part of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland in a bid to control exports.  

But it backed down after a furious outcry from Dublin, Belfast and London.  

Former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith accused Brussels of an "almost Trumpian act" with its threat to override part of Northern Ireland Protocol.  

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the EU “cocked up big time”.  

"Years have been spent trying to ensure goods will flow freely and there will be no hard border and last night the EU pulled the emergency cord without following any of the process that are in the protocol if one side wants to suspend it.

"And they did that, in my view, without anywhere near the understanding of the Good Friday Agreement, of the sensitivity of the situation in Northern Ireland, and it was an almost Trumpian act.

"The relationships are complex, we need to spend much, much more time, much, much more money and much, much more resources in getting this relationship right. The EU cocked up big time last night, but we all need to work in the interests of preserving Northern Ireland.

"It is not just a backdoor for goods going to Britain, it is a very sensitive place and we have a duty of care between the EU and the UK to preserve no hard border and stability in Northern Ireland."

Northern Ireland’s first minister Arlene Foster urged Boris Johnson to replace the protocol, in the wake of the row.  

She described the threat from Brussels as an "absolutely incredible act of hostility”.  

The row erupted amid delays to the EU supply of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.  

Ms Foster accused the EU of being willing to breach its own Brexit divorce deal because of “embarrassment around their vaccine procurement."

"The protocol is unworkable, let's be very clear about that, and we need to see it replaced because otherwise there is going to be real difficulties here in Northern Ireland."

Meanwhile, others hit out at French president Emmanuel Macron over his claim that the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed at Oxford University, is "quasi-ineffective" for the over-65s.

Sir John Bell, who is part of the Oxford University vaccine team, accused president Macron of an attempt at "demand management".  

Sir John conceded that the original study tested only small numbers of elderly people, many of whom were effectively shielding themselves from the pandemic.  

But he said other studies proved "elderly people responded just as well” as others, adding "there's really persuasive evidence that this is a protective vaccine in those populations".

"I suspect this is a bit of demand management from Mr Macron," he added.

Pressed if he thought the French president was trying to reduce demand for the vaccine amid fears over its supply, Sir John said: "Well, if he didn't have any vaccine the best thing you could do is reduce demand."