TORY MP Andrew Bowie has said when we look back on the coronavirus crisis in the future, it will be an “irrefutable” fact that the Union “worked” when it was needed most.
Bowie, one of the party’s vice chairmen, said the crisis – which has led to more than 12,000 deaths across the UK – has shown the Union to be “as solid as the rocks on which these islands are built”.
Writing in his Times column Bowie also praised the Queen for uniting the nations of the UK with her coronavirus address – even though a recent study found Scotland felt the message didn’t lift spirits more than England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
READ MORE: Every part of the UK thinks the Queen has lifted spirits – except one
His column – released as a row over one PPE firm being told not to deal with Scotland or Wales raged on – took the opportunity to heap praise on the UK Government while saying decisions made at Holyrood during the crisis “must be challenged”.
Bowie wrote: “We saw the country come together, from Warwick to Wick, every Thursday evening to clap our heroes in the NHS. We united in our common concern for the health of loved ones: north, south, east or west on our islands. We watched, as one, in quiet, solemn admiration as our Queen addressed us and invoked the great British spirit, our shared history of resolve and determination, as we battled together, to beat this vicious, indiscriminate virus.”
Of course Bowie then took the chance to criticise the Scottish Government’s “poor decisions taken to the detriment of the people and economy of Scotland, not least the higher tax burden on middle-income earners in Scotland compared with their counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland”.
However, he accepted that devolution had “worked” – but within the “construct of a United Kingdom with the strength, economic might and common purpose to work as one for each of its subjects”.
He concluded the article by calling for a “new Britain” to be built once the crisis is over.
His column was published as concerns grew over Scottish care homes’ ability to access crucial personal protection equipment, with at least one firm saying they’d been instructed not to deal with Scotland or Wales by Public Health England.
The First Minister said earlier that the reports are “extremely concerning” and would be investigated further.
READ MORE: Westminster tells vital supply firms not to deal with Scotland
Additionally Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said she wished to ask Matt Hancock about the reports during a planned phone call today – but said her English counterpart had cancelled the call.
All of this comes after anger surrounded the UK Government’s decisions not to join an EU joint-procurement scheme to obtain crucial ventilators and protective equipment. Downing Street had initially said the move was because the UK is no longer a member of the EU – but then changed track, saying there had been communication issues.
And it follows last week’s news that the UK Government missed eight meetings with EU leaders between February and March – the period in which Europe became the epicentre of the pandemic.
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