TORY MSP Adam Tomkins sparked anger yesterday after claiming the First Minister’s lockdown easing announcement was too little, too late, too slow.

The shadow strategy secretary was critical of Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement that shops would soon re-open, more households would be able to meet up outdoors with social distancing, “extended household groups” would be allowed, professional sport would resume and places of worship could open their doors for individual prayer.

The SNP leader also made it possible for some indoor workplaces to reopen – subject to strict physical distancing – and explained a date for hospitality firms to reopen would be provided on July 2 following further scientific advice.

Tomkins said the announcement was “terrible news” for hospitality and “mixed news” for retail. He complained that there is “no ambition from Sturgeon at all”.

Meanwhile it emerged that in Scotland, where strict lockdown measures have remained in place for longer than south of the Border, the Covid-19 death rate has fallen to a third of that in England since the end of May.

The First Minister has stressed the importance of a slow and cautious return to normality, yesterday warning that that the “devastating” human cost of Covid-19 should “serve as a serious warning against any complacency” in phase two of lockdown.

SNP MSP James Dornan rejected Tomkins’s suggestion that the First Minister’s announcement had been so negative. “Good news for those who will continue to live because of Scottish Government decisions though,” he told him.

One Twitter user replied to his tweet with an article about experts warning that lifting lockdown measures is “premature” while the pandemic is growing in some parts of the UK and other countries, like South Korea and China, are seeing a resurgence of Covid-19 cases. “You are once again on the wrong side of history,” @LassieLmr said.

MSP Stuart McMillan told Tomkins his tweet was “pathetic”. Others asked what should be done rather than erring on the side of caution, which scientists have stressed is so crucial in the fight against coronavirus. One person asked : “When did we get the update that ambition kills a virus? Did I miss that?”

The Tory MSP amassed more than 1500 replied to his original post.

This morning Scottish Tory figures have focused on the economic consequences of Covid-19 – which are affecting countries hit by the virus all around the world.

Failing to mention that the UK’s economy is expected to see the worst economic hit from Covid-19 of any developed country, which experts see as a consequence of Boris Johnson’s late lockdown, Jackson Carlaw is accusing the First Minister of “steering the country into economic disaster”.

Speaking in Holyrood yesterday Sturgeon insisted she fully understands the issues facing Scotland and criticised Carlaw for his “constant tendency” to politicise issues.

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She said: “My ministerial colleagues have literally been working round the clock to steer Scotland through this crisis and we will do that for as long as it takes.

“Despite the tone and tenor changes today, prompted by the tone of Jackson Carlaw’s question, I will continue to try to do that non-party politically as far as I can. But I do, Presiding Officer, I do really regret the constant tendency of Jackson Carlaw to try to politicise all of these issues.

“Scrutiny’s really important but if anybody doubts that just reflect on the fact that most of the things Jackson Carlaw criticises the Scottish Government for he supports when the UK Government are doing them.”