THE SNP’s Westminster leader has criticised Alister Jack for making political arguments about the constitution in a Daily Mail column about easing lockdown restrictions yesterday.
The Scottish Secretary yesterday said the nation must stay in “lockstep” with the rest of the UK, arguing this is the most effective way to manage the pandemic.
The First Minister said she was “at a loss” at Jack’s comments, adding Scotland would take a different approach if she felt that was the most effective way to prevent the public from Covid-19.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon blasts back at Alister Jack over 'lockstep' claim
Conservatives yesterday rallied round Jack after he made the comments.
But speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, Ian Blackford challenged Boris Johnson on the need for Scotland to follow a UK-wide approach – and took aim at Jack’s comments.
Johnson told Blackford that the UK Government would work with ministers in Edinburgh to ensure lockdown easing was done in the right way.
The SNP MP replied: “Thank you Mr Speaker I’m very grateful for the Prime Minister’s answer and I commit myself and my party and my government colleagues in Edinburgh to working with him on that shared agenda.
“However some of his own government ministers are not following their own advice. Instead of working with the Scottish Government the Scottish Secretary of State has been making political arguments about the constitution rather than scientific ones about saving lives.
“This is not the time for opportunistic politicking, this is the time when we all must work together to protect our NHS and to save lives.”
Blackford then asked Johnson to ensure that any lockdown easing he announces in his televised address to the public on Sunday are agreed by all the devolved nations.
But the Prime Minister didn’t answer so sincerely. The told the SNP Westminster leader: “By the way I forgot to thank the right honourable gentleman and other colleagues for his kind words about Wilfred and I just want to thank him for that because I forgot to say that and I’ll be marked down if I don’t so thank you.”
Conservatives present in the House laughed throughout the Tory leader’s comment.
Johnson then said: “Listen I share the right honourable gentleman’s aims, we will do our level best to make sure that the outlines of this attract the widest possible consensus, I think that they can and ought to.
“And I’m delighted by his call for a prohibition on political arguments about the constitution, and I think that would be warmly welcomed across this country.”
Today was Boris Johnson’s first PMQs back after recovering from coronavirus.
He was due to return last week but was at his son Wilfred’s birth and was replaced by Dominic Raab.
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