• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Matt Hancock shut down by regulator after trying to credit quick vaccine approval on UK leaving EU

Julia Hartley-Brewer had asked whether the swift approval had been a "benefit of Brexit".

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2020-12-02 11:23
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Matt Hancock was quickly shut down by the regulator today after suggesting the speedy approval of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine was due to Brexit.

Speaking on talkRadio, Hancock said Britain would not have been in a position to approve the medicine with such speed had it still been a member of the EU.

He said: “We backed the scientists and they’ve done a great job and the MHRA would not approve a vaccine unless it was safe and effective.ADVERTISING

“What this now means is that we’ve got a vaccine which means help is on its way.”

Programme presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer asked whether the swift approval had been a “benefit of Brexit”.

Hancock replied: “Well, that’s right. It is absolutely clear that because we’ve left the EU, I was able to change the law so that the UK alone could make this authorisation decision.

“Because we’ve left the EU, we’ve been able to move faster yet it still be done with all of the safety checks which would have been done anyway.

RelatedPosts

Boris Johnson described foreign secretary job as like being in a ‘steel condom’

FBI raid Donald Trump’s Florida home

Meet the Tory members who get to choose the next prime minister

Nicola Sturgeon calls for urgent meeting with PM over cost-of-living crisis

 “So, we’ve got a faster approval because of Brexit, which is obviously good news for everyone.”

But Dr June Raine, head of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which approved the vaccine in record time, was quick to rebuke the claims.

Asked about whether Britain’s departure from the European Union earlier this year had affected the speed of the authorisation, Raine said that the regulator had used provisions of European law, which apply until the end of the year when a Brexit transition period ends.

She said: “We’ve been able to authorise supply of this vaccine under provisions under European law which exist until January 1st.”

Others were also quick to react, with @busterAmurdoch accused Hancock of misconstruing facts: “The UK has a long Standing regulatory provision that allows it to diverge from the EMA in the case of urgent public need. Right now the UK is still under the EU regulatory framework until the 31st December 2020.”

Clive Brown pointed out: “This is a complete lie we are still in the Single Market at this point in time.”

While Robert Scott added: “Disappointed that Julia was not more forensic. This is emergency authorisation rather than approval and we should be told what steps/checks have been omitted or accelerated.”

Related: Free school meal contract given without tender to company with “limited evidence” of its capacity to deliver

Tags: headline

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

This is Theresa May’s playbook for getting her Brexit deal through parliament  

‘I will not be silenced:’ Woman arrested at Sarah Everard vigil preparing for legal action against Met

Dads Stop Hugging Children by the time they turn 10 years-old

Watch – Man tries to unblock a drain and pulls out a COW

Live Review – The Mynabirds

Coronavirus conference cancelled due to coronavirus

David Cameron lobbied Tory peer at Lloyds to save Greensill deal

Beer of the Week – Meantime Yakima Red

Injury blow for Spurs new signing as they are still chasing star striker

Rosemary Lamb and Red Wine Stew

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.