Scotland’s first minister has said Boris Johnson’s proposed visit to Scotland on Thursday is “not essential”.
Nicola Sturgeon said there should not be one rule for the public and another for politicians, as the British prime minister prepares to head north.
But the first minister stressed she does not want her comments to be interpreted as her saying Mr Johnson is not welcome in Scotland.
We have a duty to lead by example
Under current regulations put in place by the Scottish government, only people making essential journeys across the border are allowed to enter Scotland.
Similar regulations are also in place to stop travel across council boundaries within Scotland.
Speaking at the Scottish government’s coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon said: “I would say me travelling from Edinburgh to Aberdeen to visit a vaccination centre right now is not essential, and Boris Johnson travelling from London to wherever he is in Scotland to do the same is not essential.
“If we’re asking other people to abide by that, then I’m sorry but it’s probably incumbent on us to do likewise.”
'Futile Union Jackery'
Ms Sturgeon continued: “I am not and never would be saying that Boris Johnson is not welcome in Scotland – he’s the prime minister of the UK.
“We’re living in a global pandemic right now.
“Every day I look down the camera and say… don’t travel unless it’s really essential, work from home if you possibly can.
“We have a duty to lead by example and if we are going to suggest that we don’t take these rules as seriously as we should, it gets harder to convince other people.
“That’s why I’m perhaps not ecstatic about the thought of the prime minister visiting, it’s not because he’s not welcome.”
When asked if she believes Mr Johnson’s visit would break any laws in Scotland, she said: “I’m sure he and his advisers will take great care to make sure he isn’t breaking any laws, I take that as read, but we all need to make judgments on what we genuinely think is essential right now.”
When asked about the visit in the House of Commons by SNP MP Neale Hanvey – who described the move as “futile Union Jackery” – Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “The prime minister is the prime minister of the United Kingdom and wherever he needs to go in his vital work against this pandemic, he will go.”
