NICOLA Sturgeon will be meeting with Rishi Sunak on Thursday - the first time she will talk to a prime minister in person since the end of Boris Johnson’s tenure.
The First Minister will meet Sunak in Blackpool ahead of the British-Irish Council on Friday to discuss the cost-of-living crisis and “the need to avoid damaging austerity in the upcoming autumn statement”.
The talks between Sturgeon and Sunak will be immediately followed by a meeting with the other heads of the UK devolved governments.
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A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ahead of the 38th British-Irish Council this Friday, the First Minister will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister in Blackpool on Thursday afternoon and take part in a meeting of the Prime Minister and Heads of Devolved Government Council immediately following that.
“The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss the cost-of-living crisis, the need to avoid damaging austerity in the upcoming autumn statement and the importance of respecting the right of the people of Scotland to choose their own constitutional future.”
The pair have spoken at least once since Sunak became PM, as he called the First Minister during his first 24 hours in office.
This will be Sturgeon's first meeting with a prime minister since Johnson left office as Liz Truss held a policy of “ignoring” the First Minister during her short stint in No 10.
The First Minister is expected to be back in Holyrood in time to participate in FMQs.
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