MPs said the agreement has major implications for the UK's ability to set national policy in a future global health crisis. Matt Dunham/AP
Britain 'sleepwalked' into pandemic deal, risking turning it into a 'lockdown first' precedent, ministers warned.
There is 'concern' among MPs about peace Organisation's agreement health plan to tackle the pandemic is due to be ratified later this month.
MPs are urging the government not to rush into signing a deal that they say has serious implications for Britain's sovereignty and its ability to set national policy in a future global health crisis.
Critics warn that signing the treaty could force member states to follow the UN agency's guidelines when responding to future pandemics, which could include measures such as lockdowns, vaccine passports, border closures and quarantines.
It came after , as 49 Republican members of the US Senate wrote to Joe Biden saying it was «unacceptable» that the treaty would expand the WHO's power over member states during public health emergencies.
They said the WHO's «failure» during the Covid pandemic has «caused lasting harm to our country», adding that they «urge you to change course» by withdrawing support for deal negotiations and refocusing on WHO reforms.
< Suella Braverman, the former attorney general, told The Telegraph she had “serious concerns” about the treaty, adding: “We have to be incredibly wary of the WHO proposing something like this because they have made mistakes in their answers." , in their opinion and in their approach.”
Suella Braverman said the WHO «made mistakes in its responses.» Photo: Simon Wohlfarth/AFP
The WHO has come under fire for supporting China, and Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been criticized for praising Beijing during the pandemic, initially saying its lockdown strategy had «buyed time for the world». «.
The UN agency has also been criticized for failing to properly investigate the origins of Covid.
Ms Braverman went on to say that the “sovereignty and constitutional implications” of the treaty were critical, adding: “We don’t want a situation where the WHO can try to take away our powers during a new pandemic. I am very concerned that the government is sleepwalking into an agreement that we will regret.”
In March 2021, leaders including Boris Johnson announced plans for a new agreement that would commit countries to tackling global health emergencies. .
The treaty has been criticized for stripping away sovereign powers, raising concerns that Britain risks handing over control of pandemic policy to unelected health officials. It was significantly toned down in the final draft, published this month.
However, under the latest terms of the new agreement, the WHO will have the right to demand that the UK donate more than 20 per cent of its vaccines and medicines amid the pandemic.
Danny Kruger, chairman of the New Conservative group of MPs, said: «What's left is just weeks until the World Health Assembly is set to vote on these international pandemic agreements. We absolutely must not risk following the “lockdown first” precedent to fight the next pandemic.
“The UK should be a leader in calling for a delay to the WHO vote to allow sufficient time to debate measures that could shape UK public health policy for a generation to come.”
“Is the British government prepared for a delay?”
Lord Frost, the former chief Brexit negotiator, said several MPs were concerned that the deal had «broken through». was very transparent and did not define what it was trying to do,” he added.
“The question is, is the British government prepared for a delay? I certainly think this may be reasonable. The latest drafts are better than previous versions, but overall they still create a new WHO-led pandemic management system, and the consequences of this are still not fully thought through or even discussed here.
Sir John Redwood, a Conservative MP, said he had «no desire» to sign the treaty, adding: «I'm glad the UK is part of the body that gives advice, but I don't want us to sign up.» a body that has the capacity to guide us should a health crisis arise.»
Molly Kingsley, founder of campaign group UsForThem, said: «From praising China's inhumane response to lockdown to denying human-to-human transmission of the virus despite to suppress critical debate about the origins of the virus, WHO's performance during the pandemic has been dismal.
“To begin the process of increasing your resources and influence after such chaotic activity is a gross abuse.”
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said: “We cannot comment on the details of specific proposals, and no proposals were agreed upon. We will only support and accept the agreement on behalf of the UK if it is firmly in the UK's national interests and respects national sovereignty.»
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