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THREAD: here& #39;s the timeline around the UK not joining the EU coronavirus equipment procurement scheme. it makes interesting reading!
31 January, 2 March, 19 March: British officials in Brussels attend meetings discussing EU scheme to help countries procure coronavirus equipment https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/uk-missed-three-chances-to-join-eu-scheme-to-bulk-buy-ppe">https://www.theguardian.com/world/202... and https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/uk-discussed-joint-eu-plan-to-buy-covid-19-medical-supplies-say-officials">https://www.theguardian.com/world/202...
17 March: European Commission spokesperson confirms publicly that the UK is entitled to take part in the EU& #39;s coronavirus equipment procurement scheme, when asked by @JenniferMerode from the Guardian https://twitter.com/JenniferMerode/status/1239929731669274624">https://twitter.com/JenniferM...
19 March: Boris Johnson is urged by British politicians to join the EU& #39;s protective equipment procurement scheme https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-uk-update-boris-johnson-ventilators-eu-procurement-a9411741.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p...
24 March: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces that the procurement scheme has managed to secure several large orders with manufacturers of protective equipment. The UK isn& #39;t among those member sates taking part https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_523">https://ec.europa.eu/commissio...
26 March 12.00pm: Asked why the UK has declined to join the scheme, Downing Street spokesperson simply says: “We are no longer members of the EU." Boris Johnson is accused of being "ideological" in refusing to join https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-boris-johnson-eu-medical-equipment-brexit-latest-a9428401.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p...
26 March 6.45pm: Downing Street spokesperson claims to lobby journalists that in fact, a communications error meant the UK missed the invitation to join the scheme https://twitter.com/joncstone/status/1243242223828942855">https://twitter.com/joncstone...
April 14: Cabinet minister Therese Coffey seems to suggest not joining the scheme was deliberate decision, telling LBC: “The government has made an assessment that by joining the schemes, it wasn’t going to make any particular difference" https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-uk-protective-equipment-uk-ventilators-brexit-latest-a9464236.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p...
April 21 3.50pm: Foreign Office& #39;s top civil servant Sir Simon McDonald tells MPs he briefed ministers about the options and they made "political decision" not to joint the scheme https://twitter.com/patrickwintour/status/1252611531570806784">https://twitter.com/patrickwi...
April 21, 5.15pm: Matt Hancock tells daily press briefing: "As far as I& #39;m aware there was no political decision not to participate in that scheme ... we are now members of that scheme."
April 21, 5.36pm: Government sources tell select journalists that civil servant Sir Simon McDonald to write to & #39;clarify& #39; that it wasn& #39;t a political decision not to join the scheme https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1252637396497248257">https://twitter.com/SamCoates...
