THE Scottish Secretary’s claim that Nicola Sturgeon has “encouraged reckless talk” about imposing restrictions on the Scottish Border to help prevent new outbreaks of coronavirus has come under fire.
During a Commons session this morning, a Labour MP asked Alister Jack about what measures are being taken to protect Scottish hospitality firms during the coronavirus pandemic.
Responding, Jack explained the furlough scheme will continue until October – then took aim at the First Minister.
This week the SNP leader failed to rule out imposing quarantine measures on people entering Scotland from the rest of the UK “if it is required from a public health perspective”.
Experts, including the University of Edinburgh’s Devi Sridhar, have said Scotland could eliminate Covid-19 in a matter of weeks – but efforts will be hampered by the country’s 154km Border with England.
Sturgeon has said Scotland’s aim with the virus is to “get as close to elimination as possible” – but warned the UK Government appeared to be “letting it circulate at higher levels”.
Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw said while his party supports local lockdowns, like the one imposed on Leicester, he would not back “arbitrary measures” on the Scottish Border.
What is “reckless’ is trying to turn a public health battle against a deadly and dangerous virus into a political/constitutional argument. https://t.co/QNVJerm44q
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 1, 2020
This morning Jack added to Carlaw’s criticism. Replying to MP Janet Daby’s question, he said: “When she raises tourism and hospitality which is going through effectively three winters unless we get it up and running again this summer, I would say to her that what’s deeply regrettable is that the First Minister has encouraged reckless talk.
“This talk of quarantining people from other parts of the United Kingdom – it’s disappointing, it’s divisive, it’s not the language we should be hearing from our First Minister because it undermines the joint efforts that we’ve had in tackling Covid-19 and it’s bad for business. It’s especially bad for the tourism business.”
READ MORE: New Scientist analysis: Scotland's virus fight hampered by England
Immediately, Sturgeon responded on Twitter. “What is ‘reckless’ is trying to turn a public health battle against a deadly and dangerous virus into a political/constitutional argument,” she posted.
In a New Scientist article yesterday, the publication explored the possibility that Scotland could eliminate Covid-19 but is “unlikely” to because of England’s approach to the pandemic.
Sridhar explained further: “Many people cross that Border every day.
“I think we will probably never get, without England’s co-operation, to full elimination.”
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