EU vaccine move was "unacceptable", says Tony Blair
The bloc had planned to override the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has criticised the European Union's short-lived move to override the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland.
The bloc planned to set aside part of the agreement to prevent coronavirus vaccine shipments entering the UK, due to supply issues.
The EU then backtracked, after facing criticism from London, Dublin and Belfast.
Blair, a vocal supporter of the UK remaining in the bloc, said the Brussels' action in triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to control the movement of coronavirus jabs had been "unacceptable''.
Asked if the move was irresponsible, the Labour grandee told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, “Yes, it was a very foolish thing to do and fortunately they withdrew it very quickly.”
“I was somebody who negotiated the Good Friday Agreement, it's brought peace to the island of Ireland and it is absolutely vital that we protect it and that's why what the European Commission did was unacceptable but, as you say, fortunately they withdrew it very quickly.''