Inside Politics: EU leaders in talks with Putin for Russian vaccine

Turning increasingly desperate, Macron and Merkel have spoken to Putin about jab supply, writes Adam Forrest

Angela Merkel talks with Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)

It doesn’t take much to panic us at the moment. US Strategic Command – the body responsible for the nuclear weapons – sparked fear and confusion by posting gibberish on Twitter. A meltdown? A major hack? No. The social media manager left his child at the computer and the tiny imposter temporarily took over the account. David Cameron may be starting to seriously panic, as the Westminster lobbying scandal threatens to turn nuclear. Labour has shared his financier friend’s old business card – showing that the (alleged) imposter claimed to have worked at No 10. Meanwhile, panicking EU leaders have turned to Putin for help – desperately hoping the Russian vaccine doesn’t turn out to be an imposter.

Inside the bubble

Political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

The commission on race and ethnic disparities – which Boris Johnson promised would “set a positive agenda for change” – will publish its recommendations today. Elsewhere Lisa Nandy, in her first major speech as shadow foreign secretary, will tell the Chatham House think tank that patriotism can help Britain rediscover its confidence.

Daily briefing

WHO’S YOUR VLADDY? France and Germany, desperate to obtain more Covid vaccines, are reportedly negotiations with Vladimir Putin’s government to supply the Russian Sputnik jab. President Emmanuel Macron and chancellor Angela Merkel held a video call with the Putin to discuss “co-operation” over supply once Sputnik is approved by regulators, according to The Telegraph. It comes as Germany suspended use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab for the under-60s, after its health authorities identified 31 cases of blood clots. “We have to be able to trust the vaccines,” said Merkel. It forced Boris Johnson’s government to defend the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab yet again. A Downing Street spokesperson said it is “safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives in this country”. Meanwhile, the EU Commission has confirmed that president Ursula von der Leyen “chose not to co-sign” a plea from 20 world leaders calling for a new global treaty on preparedness. A sign export bans are still in her mind? 

YOU’RE SUCH A CARD! New questions for David Cameron, if he would only come out of hiding to answer them. The Labour party has shared a photo which appears to be financier Lex Greensill’s old business card, showing him as “senior adviser” at the prime minister’s office, 10 Downing Street. Labour claims Greensill handed the business card to an industry figure in 2012, shortly after he began advising Cameron on supply chain finance. “This raises further serious questions about the special access Lex Greensill was granted to the heart of government,” said Labour’s Anneliese Dodds. “The public have a right to know what happened here – we need a full, transparent and thorough investigation.” Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said on Wednesday that he didn’t think Cameron had done “anything wrong” – but said it would be “absolutely right” if MPs on various committees wanted to investigate the “behaviour” of the former PM. Is Boris Johnson’s government slowly backing away from Dave?

NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Does institutional racism exist in the UK? Not according to a government report commissioned in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests. The commission on race and ethnic disparities has found that the term “institutional racism” is being used too “liberally” – and said racism is becoming less important in explaining social inequalities. The report suggests those inequalities have as much to do with social class as anything else. The report comes as a police watchdog found that the Metropolitan Police acted “appropriately” at the vigil for Sarah Everard. What about the images of women being force to the ground? Home secretary Priti Patel said we shouldn’t “prejudge the police”, because “images can be taken out of context”. The watchdog said calls for Commissioner Cressida Dick to resign, including from Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, were “unwarranted”. Labour leader Keir Starmer – probably a bit relieved he didn’t join Davey – said he “remained concerned” about the events but accepted the report’s findings.

NORMALITY OF EVIL: Conservative MP Maria Miller has revealed that she was sexually assault at school – saying it was “a routine part of life” for many girls at school. Miller, calling for Ofsted to carry out an inquiry into sexual abuse in schools, told The Independent that the government has failed to take proper measures to tackle rape and sexual harassment in schools. Chances to root out the have been missed since a report called for “urgent” action on the issue five years ago, MPs have warned. Miller and other former members of the women and equalities committee said they produced a report in 2016 warning that the government had no “coherent plan” for dealing with “deeply troubling” levels of sexual harassment taking place at schools. “What is the government doing to keep children safe in schools?” said Labour’s Jess Phillips. “When Gavin Williamson says he’s shocked by revelations in schools he’s being dishonest.”

TRICKY FOR NICKY: Scotland’s political leaders clashed over independence – what else? – at the first TV debate of the Holyrood election campaign. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon claimed Scotland was in danger of going in the “wrong direction” if it left decisions to Boris Johnson’s government. Most pundits handed the contest to Labour leader Anas Sarwar. His best zinger was directed straight at Sturgeon: “If she obsessed about fighting poverty as much as she does about the constitution, imagine how different Scotland could be as a result.” Alex Salmond did not feature at the debate, and it’s fair to say he’s not had a great 24 hours. Alba Party candidate Dr Jim Walker had to say sorry for calling Sturgeon “a cow” on Twitter only days after Salmond set up his breakaway pro-independence party. Another Alba Party candidate – former boxing champion Alex Arthur – apologised after he was found to have made derogatory remarks about “Romanian beggars” being as fat as “big, juicy, over-fed pigs” on Twitter. Sounds like a pleasant chap.

TEN YEARS GONE: The SNP’s promise to lead an independent Scotland back into the promised land of the EU would take a decade, according to the Institute for Government (IfG). The think tank’s new analysis of the process said Scotland would spend a long time in the wilderness while applying to re-join the bloc, and would almost certainly have to apply to join the Euro too. The IfG report also warns of another hard border. EU membership would be impossible unless the Scottish government was ready to carry out checks on goods at the border with England. Speaking of new borders, the TUC has challenged Boris Johnson’s ministers keep the pace with the EU on workers’ rights. The union says the EU has various initiatives in the pipeline to benefit workers once they become law in member states – but points out that the UK has no similar legislation on the way.

On the record

“He will be telling himself he is somehow advancing the independence cause – but I think he’s standing because he loves the limelight and can’t bear not to be on the stage.”

Nicola Sturgeon on Alex Salmond.

From the Twitterati

“Was Greensill ever on the payroll of No 10 …? If not, how on earth did he get the secure No 10 phone line and email address? This is pretty extraordinary.”

Anthony Spisak is amazed by the business card...

“No wonder David Cameron isn’t answering his phone to any journalists at the moment.”

…while Neil Morrow isn’t surprised Cameron has gone to ground.

Essential reading

Tom Peck, The Independent: Accidents have an alarming propensity to happen to David Cameron

Nadine White, the Independent: The government must tackle institutional racism after scrapping ‘Bame’ label

Martha Gill, Prospect: Is Carrie Symonds really meddling at No 10?

Jamelle Bouie, The New York Times: The Republican party is driving democratic decline in America

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