Boris Johnson’s Former Chief of Staff Dominic Cummings has launched a tirade over Emily Maitlis’ dismissal of the role of Brexit in the UK rollout of the covid vaccine
Dominic Cummings has launched a furious tirade on Emily Maitlis’ opinion on UK’s vaccine rollout (Image: GLOBAL/BBC)
Dominic Cummings has furiously lashed out at claims made by Emily Maitlis that Britain’s rollout of the Covid vaccine was unrelated to Brexit.
Former BBC newsreader and Newsnight presenter Ms Maitlis, now one-third of the hit daily news podcast ‘The News Agents’ reposted a claim made by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Speaking on LBC as he promotes his new book, Johnson said: “We had the freedom to vaccinate faster than anybody else and that saved lives. Brexit saved lives.”
Ms Maitlis responded to the comments on the podcast that she co-hosts with Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall, dismissing the former prime minister’s rationale.
She said: “Under European law, let’s just state it really clear here, the UK was permitted to act independently to approve the vaccine in an emergency.
Whilst promoting his new book, the former PM has said that Brexit enabled the UK vaccine rollout (Image: Getty)
The former Newsnight presenter later reposted the clip with the quote: “‘Brexit’ did not save lives through the Covid vaccine roll out. Let’s get this clear- we could develop and buy the vaccine within the EU.”
The post sparked the ire of Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s former Chief of Staff and influential member of the Government during the Covid pandemic.
He launched into a furious post on X as he claimed: “Total balls from Maitlis.
“The EU scheme was an obvious normal bureaucratic s***show, lots of powerpoint bulls*** for months and slow procurement.
“It’s in my statement to Inquiry but obviously these Remain hacks just pump out propaganda, not journalism.”
The former BBC journalist dismissed Johnson’s claims on her podcast ‘The News Agents’ (Image: Getty)
On the podcast, Ms Maitlis’ co-host Lewis Goodall concurred with her dismissal of the role of Brexit on the effectiveness of the rollout.
Goodall said: “It’s not like Europe didn’t have a vaccine rollout.
“During the pandemic it was almost as if Britain uniquely had the vaccine. We’re talking potentially about the difference of a week or two.”
According to the head of the UK’s medicines regulator, Ms Maitlis’ comment on Britain’s ability to act independently in an emergency stands up.
Cummings was instrumental in Brexit and the response to the pandemic (Image: Getty)
Speaking in 2020, Dr June Raine, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that Britain was still subject to EU rules during the Brexit transition period at the time of the vaccine rollout.
Raine said: “We have been able to authorise the supply of this vaccine using provisions under European law, which exist until 1 January.”
Leading Brexiteers such as former MP Jacob Rees-Mogg have dismissed this explanation on several occasions.
