Boris Johnson rules out retaliating over EU vaccine threat with a blockade

The first batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines to arrive in Ireland. File picture: Marc O’Sullivan/HSE/PA

Boris Johnson has rejected the possibility the UK could engage in a tit-for-tat vaccine export war with the European Union after it threatened to halt supplies during a row with AstraZeneca.

The British Prime Minister said on Tuesday that Britain does not believe in engaging in “blockades of any kind”, as he signalled tensions could be thawing during talks with the bloc.