Email mix-up halts equipment scheme

Britain missed out on access to a European Union ventilator supply scheme due to an email “mix-up”, it has been claimed.

Downing Street said the UK did not take part in an EU-led scheme to bulk buy ventilators as “we are no longer members”.

Officials have since U-turned, however, after accusations Boris Johnson was putting “Brexit over breathing”.

Number 10 now claim the UK is not in the scheme because an invitation to take part was lost in an email mix-up.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“As the commission has confirmed, we are eligible to participate in joint procurements during the transition period, following our departure from the EU earlier this year.

“As those four initial procurement schemes had already gone out to tender we were unable to take part in these, but we will consider participating in future procurement schemes on the basis of public health requirements at the time.”

The decision not to participate led to widespread criticism earlier and accusations the UK Government was putting ideology over people’s lives.

Dr Philippa Whitford MP, the SNP’s Brexit spokesperson, said: “The coronavirus pandemic does not recognise borders or ideology, and it is vital that the UK Government does not turn its back on collaboration to tackle this virus and to protect our citizens.”

The prime minister’s official spokesman, responding to the accusations, said: “Well we are no longer members of the EU.

“We are conducting our own work on ventilators and we’ve had a very strong response from business and we’ve also procured ventilators from the private sector in the UK and from international manufacturers.”