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The successful launch of the vaccine in the UK was due to “greed” and “capitalism,” Boris Johnson told Conservative MPs during a private call.
Several of those present confirmed that the prime minister had made the remarks during an end-of-term Zoom meeting with Conservative MPs, known as the 1922 Committee, on Tuesday night, two days before the Commons breaks for Easter.
Johnson praised the fact that more than 28 million people took a first hit in the UK, saying: “The reason we have the vaccine success is because of capitalism, because of greed, folks.”
Immediately afterward, he tried to backtrack and withdraw what he had said, according to MPs, one of whom added that the prime minister made a joke about how details of virtual 1922 Committee meetings are often leaked.
Downing Street has not denied the account but declined to comment.
Opposition MPs condemned the prime minister’s comments, noting that they came on the anniversary of the first coronavirus lockdown.
Labor MP Barry Sheerman called it a “disgusting comment on this everyday”, while colleague Angela Eagle tweeted: “Altruism, not greed, will help us get through this.”
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran also said the prime minister’s intervention “was not helpful.”
Some of those on the call sought to add context to Johnson’s words, saying that he had been speaking generally about how Big Pharma managed to safely create vaccines at record speed, and not the ongoing dispute with the EU. . One called it “an informal, light-hearted comment.”
But the remarks still run the risk of escalating tensions with Brussels, as Johnson has wanted to avoid becoming embroiled in a war of words with European leaders, despite the threat of a vaccine export ban on the continent.
On Tuesday, Johnson suggested that he would not get involved in a tit-for-tat export ban, with sources saying the priority remained to defuse tensions rather than escalate with threats.
Speaking at a press conference 10 hours earlier to mark the first anniversary of the shutdown, Johnson said: “We in this country do not believe in blockages of any type of vaccine or vaccine material, that is not something this country would dream of. to participate “.
At another point in the call with Tory MPs, Johnson admitted that local elections scheduled for May would be difficult, one MP said.
They also said she got into the BBC, describing it as “separated from many viewers” and suggesting that corporate heads should “move more online.”
