ANDREW Neil has been panned after claiming Scotland’s vaccine roll-out “hasn't gone as well” as England’s.

The former BBC broadcaster, who is now launching a new Fox News-style channel GB News, made the comment as he was interviewed on breakfast television.

Stunned social media users pointed out that Scotland was recently revealed to be vaccinating people at a higher rate than any other European country. 

The Spectator chairman, who was part of a panel discussion on ITV’s This Morning, was asked by hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes if he agreed that Nicola Sturgeon was "more alert than other leaders of the UK" in relation to Scottish schools returning from next week.

READ MORE: Scotland overtakes England in coronavirus vaccine race thanks to huge surge

The National: Andrew Neil on This Morning. Photograph: ITVAndrew Neil on This Morning. Photograph: ITV

Speaking from his home in the South of France, Neil said: "She is certainly perceived to be one step ahead, there is no question about that, she is much better at the presentation than Boris Johnson is.

"She speaks straightly, coherently, in sentences, something the Prime Minister isn't always famous for.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon reacts as data shows Scotland's vaccine roll-out leading in Europe

"Whether there is that much difference between the policies, there is a week or 10 days in it most of the time.

"The vaccination rollout hasn't gone as well in Scotland as it has in England, on the other hand, the number of deaths from Covid per 100,00 people is lower in Scotland than it is in England.”

He added: "Overall, if you step back from it and you are to look at this country from the outside, you would conclude that for all the emphasis on the differences, policy overall in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland hasn't really been that different.

"It's had huge failures, like the care homes in the early days, and huge successes like the vaccine rollout we have now."

READ MORE: Andrew Neil caught out after This Morning claim about Nicola Sturgeon

However, the latest vaccine figures show Scotland has in fact been outperforming England for the last week in terms of the seven-day average of vaccine doses per 100,000 people.

Last week, it was also reported that Scotland vaccinated a higher proportion of residents in seven days than any other country in Europe.

One social media user wrote: "Andrew Neil was incorrect about Scotland’s vaccine rollout performance, Scotland currently is the top performer in Europe"

Another added: "Can’t listen to Andrew Neil pontificating about COVID-19 and the government’s handling of the pandemic. We need to do this, we need to do that … from the south of France."

Yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon announced that more than a quarter of Scots have now been given at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Today she confirmed, as of 8.30am, 1,320,074 people had received the first dose, which is an increase of 32,070 in 24 hours.

The First Minister also guaranteed that everyone given their first dose of coronavirus vaccine so far will be able to get their second dose within the next 12 weeks.

Just last month, Neil was corrected after claiming Nicola Sturgeon has not thanked the British Army for their efforts during coronavirus crisis.

Speaking on This Morning, Neil said: "It would be nice if Nicola Sturgeon could utter the words 'thank you British Army for what has been done in Scotland' but so far nothing."

But it was pointed out that the First Minister had issued a special thank you message to military personnel on December 23.

"At this special time of year, I want to send my very best wishes to everyone in our Armed Forces community," she said.

WATCH: Andrew Neil in furious anti-SNP rant during BBC politics show

In November, Neil ranted about the SNP's record in government on Politics Live, claiming the party gets a “free ride” from media outlets in London.

The broadcaster said he was “enjoying his freedom” to speak his mind having left the BBC.

An SNP spokesperson responded at the time: "Clearly, Mr Neil fancies himself as the champion of Fox News-style broadcasting in the UK. He joins others like Nigel Farage desperate for airtime to opine on the political right."