Tony Blair today criticised the EU s short-lived move to override the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland under its vaccine export controls as a very foolish move that jeopardised the peace process.
The former prime minister, a vocal supporter of the UK remaining in the bloc, said Brussels action in triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to control the movement of coronavirus jabs was unacceptable .
The EU backtracked on the move, imposed unilaterally as it faces shortfalls on vaccine supplies, after facing universal criticism from London, Dublin and Belfast.
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.