SCOTTISH Labour leadership candidate Monica Lennon last night condemned Boris Johnson’s visit to Scotland – putting her at odds with UK leader of the party, Sir Keir Starmer.
The Central Scotland MSP, who is the party’s health spokesperson at Holyrood, hit out at the Prime Minister’s trip which Nicola Sturgeon had previously suggested was not essential.
“For Boris Johnson to travel hundreds of miles across the country for no other reason than his own personal publicity sends entirely the wrong message as people make so many personal sacrifices to adhere to the current lockdown,” Lennon told The National.
Currently only travel deemed essential is permitted in Scotland under the current lockdown. Travel not considered essential is in breach of Scotland’s travel ban, which prohibits travelling between Scotland and all other parts of the UK and the Irish Republic, unless for a “reasonable excuse”. Travel for work is allowed if the work cannot be done from home.
Earlier Starmer defended Johnson’s trip, insisting the mid-pandemic visit was “legitimate”.
He told LBC radio he backed Johnson’s visit, adding: “He is Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, of course it’s legitimate.”
READ MORE: Sir Keir Starmer defends Boris Johnson's 'legitimate' trip to Scotland
Asked about Johnson’s journey during the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, Sturgeon said rules against travelling unless it is really essential had to “apply to all of us”.
She added: “People like me and Boris Johnson have to be in work for reasons that I think most people understand, but we don’t have to travel across the UK, as part of that.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel