NICOLA Sturgeon has accused Andy Burnham of escalating a war of words with the Scottish Government to boost his profile ahead of a future Labour leadership bid.
The First Minister urged the Greater Manchester mayor to have a “grown-up conversation” after he again criticised Holyrood for announcing a travel ban at short notice.
The Labour politician accused the Scottish Government of “hypocrisy” and said he was writing to Sturgeon to demand compensation for those who had to cancel trips to Scotland.
Deputy first minister John Swinney dismissed the request for financial renumeration as not "a relevant point".
WATCH: Furious Andy Burnham accuses Nicola Sturgeon of 'insulting' Manchester
Having her say on the comments, the First Minister told BBC News: "These are public health measures. I have a duty, and it's one I take very seriously, to keep Scotland as safe as possible.
"I'm sure Andy Burnham feels the same sense of duty toward people in the Greater Manchester area.
"I've always got on well with Andy Burnham and if he wants to have a grown-up conversation he only has to pick up the phone but if, as I suspect might be the case, this is more about generating a spat with me as part of some positioning in a Labour leadership contest in future, then I'm not interested.
"We've all got a serious job of work to do right now and I'm serious about doing that job in a way that keeps Scotland as safe as I possibly can."
"If he wants a grown-up conversation, he only has to pick up the phone"
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) June 21, 2021
Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon defends Manchester travel ban following criticism from Andy Burnhamhttps://t.co/KtOeMecokO pic.twitter.com/fQ8OG8zuIn
Scottish Labour leader branded the SNP leader's response immature.
He commented: "What a pathetic and childish response from Nicola Sturgeon. This isn’t 'grown-up' leadership. It’s petty politics at its worst."
Burnham increased speculation about a future leadership bid in May when he said he was "there if the party needed" him following the party’s dismal local election results.
Sturgeon announced on Friday that all non-essential travel to Manchester and Salford would be banned from today.
Burnham complained that neither he nor his administration were not contacted before the announcement.
READ MORE: John Swinney knocks back Andy Burnham's demand for travel ban compensation
He told the Andrew Marr Show yesterday that he was “really disappointed” by the First Minister’s announcement, which he described as “out of the blue”.
"That is exactly what the SNP always accuse the Westminster Government of doing, riding roughshod over people,” the mayor said.
"The SNP are treating the north of England with the same contempt in bringing that in without any consultation with us."
He added: "I just think it's double standards, it's hypocrisy. They've done to us exactly what they always complain that the UK Government does to Scotland."
Speaking earlier today, Swinney defended the Scottish Government’s decision.
He commented: "We have got to take decisions based on the data and the evidence that presents itself, and take decisions which are designed to stop the spread of the virus.
"In our judgment, the rising case numbers and the high levels of the virus in the Greater Manchester and Salford area justified the decision we took and we are taking that to try and minimise the circulation of the virus."
When questioned about the last-minute nature of the ban, he added: "That is something we will reflect on but we put in place very similar provisions in relation to Bolton, which is part of the Greater Manchester area, back in May, and we've just followed exactly the same approach in relation to this decision."
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