BORIS Johnson has struggled to explain why four times as many Scots trust the Holyrood Government to work in the country’s best interests as trust the UK Government to.
Speaking to STV News yesterday, the Prime Minister looked uncomfortable as he was asked to discuss the latest Scottish Social Attitudes Survey results.
The annual study, carried out before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, found 61% trust the Scottish Government compared to 15% who trust the UK Government. Johnson was asked why this was the case.
However despite the survey being completed before coronavirus restrictions were brought in, the Tory leader appeared to blame the crisis for the situation.
“I, I think that, in truth, I think that the, this has been a long and difficult, er, campaign against the virus and if you look at the work of, er, the Treasury in supporting the furlough scheme, the work of the armed services in bringing testing to the most remote parts of Scotland, I think you’ve seen the strength of the Union.
“I think people don’t underestimate that. And yes, you know, of course people – people are understandably very frustrated by this situation, you ask about, um, public attitudes at the moment towards the Government. I totally understand why people are frustrated. But we’re trying to strike a very very difficult balance.”
Also in the interview, Johnson was asked whether Margaret Ferrier should resign as an MP. The Rutherglen and Hamilton West representative was suspended from the SNP after it emerged she twice travelled by train while Covid-positive.
Ferrier experienced symptoms of coronavirus and then travelled from Scotland to London before giving a speech in the Commons. She later tested positive for Covid-19 and then again boarded a train, returning home to Scotland.
READ MORE: Pre-Covid study finds huge difference in Scots' trust in Holyrood vs Westminster
The First Minister said yesterday she had made it “crystal clear” that Ferrier should resign as an MP, while many party colleagues urged her to do the same. Ferrier has yet to respond to these calls.
Yesterday Downing Street refused to call for Ferrier’s resignation, instead saying it was a matter for the party despite the breach of self-isolation rules. Police are now investigating Ferrier’s trips.
Johnson said: “Well I think that’s very much a matter for the Scottish National Party and for Nicola Sturgeon.
“And what I would say about the rules is certainly everybody should obey them and the point of this is, I know that they’re bossy and intrusive and people don’t like them but believe me they do save lives.”
Boris Johnson looked uncomfortable during the interview
Asked if Ferrier’s actions were “dangerous”, Johnson said he was “not familiar with the details of the case”.
The Tory leader was asked if his failure to call for the MP’s resignation was because he had fiercely defended his chief adviser Dominic Cummings, who was accused of breaking the rules earlier this year.
Cummings travelled from London to Durham while sick with coronavirus while people were living with the strictest lockdown measures.
Johnson said: “As I recall in that particular case the Durham Constabulary were very firm that there was nothing that they wanted to do and no case to answer as far as they could see. But the general principle is a good one which is that everybody should obey the rules.”
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