BORIS Johnson has claimed the similarities between the approaches taken by the UK and Scottish governments over coronavirus measures "greatly outweigh the differences".
After Johnson gave his announcement on easing lockdown in England, Tory MP John Lamont suggested that Scotland's release from lockdown was being delayed.
Lamont said: "The Prime Minister will be aware that my constituents will not get the benefit of the measures being announced today as the First Minister of Scotland (Nicola Sturgeon) is delaying Scotland's release from lockdown.
READ MORE: English think Holyrood is handling coronavirus better than Westminster – poll
"So does the Prime Minister agree with me that the First Minister should share the evidence as to justify why Scotland is taking a different approach from the rest of the United Kingdom?"
Johnson responded: "I was earlier informed that the First Minister of Scotland was about to make a statement, as she has done several times before, uncannily similar to the one that I have just given.
"But if I'm misinformed about that I do think that it remains nonetheless the case that the similarities between our approaches greatly outweigh the differences."
Despite Johnson’s claim, there are real differences between the UK and Scottish governments’ approach to the pandemic.
Lockdown easing measures have come in different shapes and at different times – and since the end of May the death rate has fallen faster in Scotland than in England.
Meanwhile, World Health Organsation special envoy Dr David Nabarro has praised the Scottish Government for its cautious easing of lockdown measures.
While UK Government scientific advisers have warned changes in England were coming too soon several times throughout the pandemic, Nabarro said Scotland is tackling the outbreak "carefully and logically".
People based in England are also more impressed with the devolved administrations’ handling of the pandemic than their own government.
According to YouGov research, 57% of people in England felt the Scottish Government had performed well during the crisis, as opposed to 41% thinking the UK Government had done so.
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