Katy Balls Katy Balls

Will David Frost’s robust approach to the EU work?

(Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)

Boris Johnson took the opportunity at PMQs to admonish the EU’s claim that the UK had brought in a vaccine export ban. The Prime Minister said of European Council president Charles Michel’s claim that ‘we have not blocked the export of a single Covid-19 vaccine, or vaccine components’. It comes after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote to Michel to ‘set the record straight’ over the remarks.

The comments have been welcomed by Tory MPs, and are viewed as part of a wider shift in the UK government’s approach to the EU. This means a more robust take on relations with Brussels. The biggest aspect of this is David Frost’s appointment to the Cabinet as the minister in charge of UK/EU relations. Lord Frost started last week, taking responsibility of overseeing the Northern Ireland protocol from Michael Gove. 

This new approach has already sparked a backlash among some business groups

While both sides are keen to play down any reports of differences between the pair, already there are signs of the new approach.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in