Number 10 previously claimed that underlings missed an email invitation to join the EU joint procurement scheme for medical supplies.

now FCO mandarin Sir Simon McDonald has just told MPs it was a "political decision" not to take part...."

remember that they originally blamed an "initial communication problem" https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/coronavirus-ventilators-eu-procurement_uk_5e7ce46dc5b6cb08a929ebf8">https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/cor...

Matt Hancock has denied McDonald claim, pointing out that government has since joined the scheme: “As far as I’m aware there was no political decision not to participate."

He also observed that the scheme has not yet delivered “a single item” of PPE. https://www.ft.com/content/b984dece-df78-3fd0-9c84-364b57f7c039">https://www.ft.com/content/b...

but on one level this is sleight of hand:

- yes the UK has *now* joined the joint procurement exercise

- but yes we have already missed the first four initial procurement schemes

only fair to emphasise that McDonald has since retracted his own claim

and here’s tonight’s @ft story by @GeorgeWParker https://www.ft.com/content/a265fac3-b659-4fbc-b07d-769d281fa42f">https://www.ft.com/content/a...