Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied that Brexit cast a shadow over the G7 summit as the Cornwall event came to a close.
Asked at a press conference whether Brexit had created a “sour taste” at the summit, Mr Johnson said the “vast majority” of discussions had nothing to do with Britain’s exit from the EU.
“I can tell you that the vast, vast majority of the conversations that we have had over the last three or four days have been about other subjects and there has been a fantastic degree of harmony between the leaders of our countries,” he said.
One matter the prime minister said G7 leaders did agree on was the pledge to dedicate more than 1 billion coronavirus vaccines to poorer nations.
The number does fall far short of the 11 billion doses sought by the World Health Organization.
However, Mr Johnson said G7 countries would be working with other nations to speed up efforts to see more doses supplied around the world.
Meanwhile, the Elysee Palace has rejected claims that Emmanuel Macron confused the constitutional status of Northern Ireland in a conversation with Boris Johnson at the G7 summit in Cornwall.
Reports today suggested that a mix-up on NI had sparked an outburst from Mr Johnson that EU leaders had to get the importance of the territorial integrity of the UK “into their heads”.
However, Mr Macron’s office has said the French leader had only pointed out that mainland Britain and Northern Ireland were on two different islands after Mr Johnson asked him whether he would accept a ban on movements of sausages between Toulouse and Paris.
Downing Street has it will not discuss the details of the incident.
Hundreds of ‘Kill the Bill’ protesters march near summit
Hundreds of people marched today near the G7 summit to protest against a proposed bill that would give greater power to police to control protests.
The “Kill the Bill” protesters chanted “Kill the Bill” and “Who’s rights? Our rights” as they made their way down to the G7 media centre where continued to chant and give speeches.
The rallygoers were there to demonstrate against the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill.
At least 500 people were in attendance at the demonstration, according to PA.
Macron says UK inconsistencies shouldn’t be blamed on EU
France’s Emmanuel Macron has criticised Boris Johnson over the “sausage wars” row, asserting that countries cannot create such controversies when there are “serious issues to deal with”.
The French leader said Mr Johnson was “well aware” of the rules when he signed up to them and should now ensure that they are implemented “seriously, calmly and professionally”.
Boris Johnson denies Brexit wars and aid cuts undermined summit
Boris Johnson has denied that Brexit wars and aid cuts undermined the G7 summit, as critics have branded the event a “colossal failure”.
Rob Merrick has the story:
Biden says China must act more responsibly
Joe Biden has said China must act more “responsibly”.
The US leader said the country must be more transparent and to act more responsibly on human rights.
Biden says he will be ‘very straightforward’ with Putin
Joe Biden has said he plans to be “very straightforward” with Vladimir Putin when he meets him for upcoming talks.
“I will be very straightforward with Putin,” he said at a presser following the G7 summit.
The president said the US would be looking to resolve actions “inconsistent” with international norms.
He also said Mr Putin was right to say that relations between their two nations were at a low point as the two world leaders prepare to meet.
“Let me make it clear I think he’s right it’s a low point, and it depends on how he responds to acting consistent with international norms, which in many cases he has not,” he said.
Biden ‘very pleased’ with outcome of G7 talks
Joe Biden has said he “was very pleased” with the outcome of the G7 summit.
Speaking at a press conference following the Cornwall event, Mr Biden said h “noticed there was a lot of coverage of my individual comments made by my colleagues about how we were all getting along together, but the truth of the matter was that we did.”
“I felt a general sense of enthusiasm that America is back at the table,” he said.
‘America is back at the table,’ Biden says
Delivering a press conference following the G7 talks in Cornwall, Joe Biden said he made clear “America is back at the table” at the summit.
“…The united states is going to do our part,” he said. “America is back at the table.”
The US leader said his country’s “full engagement was noticed significantly” not just by fellow G7 leaders, but also “by the people” of G7 countries.
UK will do ‘whatever it takes’ to protect territorial integrity, Johnson says
Boris Johnson has said his government will do “whatever it takes” to protect the territorial integrity of the UK.
The prime minister made the comment after being asked about Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s earlier comments saying he found French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements on Great Britain and Northern Ireland “offensive”.
“What I am saying is that we will do whatever it takes to protect the territorial integrity of the UK, but actually what happened at this summit was there was a colossal amount of work on subjects that have absolutely nothing to do with Brexit,” he said.
Johnson says ‘vast majority’ of G7 talks were not about Brexit
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the “vast majority” of talks he had at the G7 summit were not about Brexit.
Asked at a press conference whether Brexit had created a “sour taste” at the summit, he said: “I can tell you that the vast, vast majority of the conversations that we have had over the last three or four days have been about other subjects and there has been a fantastic degree of harmony between the leaders of our countries.”
G7 leaders pledge one billion Covid vaccine doses
Boris Johnson says the G7 have pledged over 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses for poorer nations — far short of the 11 billion doses sought by the Wold Health Organization (WHO).
He said the doses would come both directly and through the international COVAX program.
It was one of a series of commitments announced at thr end of the three-day summit in Cornwall.
