PRIME Minister Boris Johnson will not meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during his Scottish trip, it has emerged.
The SNP leader worte to her UK counterpart asking him to talks at Bute House after she learned of his planned visit to Scotland "later this week".
The invite sought "a discussion on the current Covid situation and our respective plans for recovery" and was made public on Monday afternoon.
Now a response has emerged that shows Johnson won't take up the offer.
Instead, it notes that the Conservative head is "keen to arrange an in-person meeting" with all four UK first ministers.
And it suggests that Sturgeon could make do with Michael Gove instead.
Restating the intention to set up a new cross-UK body between administrations, Johnson's letter states that there is "much for us to dicuss as all parts of the UK to work together on our shared priority of recovering from the pandemic".
It goes on: "The UK Government is working closely with the devolved Scottish Government on a variety of different issues. I know that you have been meeting regularly with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, but I look forward to meeting with you soon and working together in the interests of people in all parts of our country."
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