Boris Johnson to call on EU leaders to dismiss proposals to block vaccine exports to UK

The UK Prime Minister is expected to contact his EU counterparts ahead of virtual summit on Thursday

It is understood Mr Johnson spoke to Ms von der Leyen, along with Dutch and Belgian prime ministers Mark Rutte and Alexander De Croo last week. Picture: Aaron Chown/PA)

Boris Johnson is expected to ask European leaders this week to dismiss any proposals to block coronavirus vaccine exports to the UK.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has ramped up the rhetoric this weekend, saying the EU has the power to “forbid” exports, adding: “That is the message to AstraZeneca.”