Oh this just gets better...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52052694
Coronavirus: 'Mix-up' over EU ventilator scheme
The government says a communications mix-up meant it missed the deadline to join an EU scheme to get extra ventilators for the coronavirus crisis.
Ministers were earlier accused of putting Brexit before public health when Downing Street said the UK had decided to pursue its own scheme.
But No 10 now says officials did not get emails inviting the UK to join and it could join future schemes.
Labour is demanding to know why the government had changed its message.
The dog ate my homework too.
But earlier on Thursday, Downing Street said the UK would not be joining the scheme because "we are no longer members of the EU".
The spokesman added: “We are conducting our own work on ventilators and we’ve had a very strong response from business, and we’ve also procured ventilators from the private sector in the UK and from international manufacturers."
Mr Johnson's spokesman denied the decision was motivated by Brexit, adding: "This is an area where we’re making our own efforts.”
and
Downing Street has now issued a statement saying the UK had missed the deadline for the first round of procurements.
A UK government spokesperson said: "Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
"As the (European) Commission has confirmed, we are eligible to participate in joint procurements during the transition period, following our departure from the EU earlier this year.
"As those four initial procurement schemes had already gone out to tender we were unable to take part in these, but we will consider participating in future procurement schemes on the basis of public health requirements at the time."