BORIS Johnson falsely claimed “there is no border” between England and Scotland as he attacked the SNP at Prime Minister’s Questions.
The remarks came after Nicola Sturgeon said she may have to consider quarantining visitors to Scotland if Covid-19 cases rise in other parts of the UK – though the First Minister stressed that there are no plans in place.
Speaking in the Commons, Scottish Tory MP Andrew Bowie asked: “Does the right honourable friend not share my anger and the frustration of the Scottish tourism sector, just as it’s getting back on its feet, that it’s having the legs pulled out from under it by deeply irresponsible, damaging and divisive talk of arbitrary border closures and quarantining of visitors from across the rest of the UK?”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon rejects Tory claim of 'reckless' Scottish Border talk
Johnson said he found the suggestions of Border measures “absolutely astonishing and shameful”.
He added: “I would point out to my honourable friend what he knows very well – there is no such thing as a border between England and Scotland.”
Ian Blackford was next up to ask questions, much to the hilarity of Tory MPs.
He paid tribute to the victims of the Glasgow hotel attack and pressed Johnson on his £5 billion “New Deal” – pointing out that it included no extra funds for Scotland.
The exchange in the Commons comes after Sturgeon declined 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”.
READ MORE: Jackson Carlaw says 'there is no border' between Scotland and England
It was quickly pointed out on social media that Johnson’s border claims was somewhat suspect.
ITV reporter used photographic evidence to disprove the PM’s claim.
Attacking @NicolaSturgeon over refusing to rule out quarantine measures for people coming to Scotland @BorisJohnson said “there is no such thing as a border between Scotland and England “. This is me yesterday in Coldstream - that’s the Tweed. The border. pic.twitter.com/YnYMigtSJ6
— @petermacmahon (@petermacmahon) July 1, 2020
And SNP councillor Mhairi Hunter posted: “Tories continually come out with this there is no border chat, but it doesn't stop them complaining about free prescriptions or different income tax bands in Scotland. Makes you wonder how they know where Scotland is if they also believe there is no border.”
A Number 10 spokesman said after PMQs that Johnson was trying to make the point that there is no “border infrastructure” between Scotland and England.
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