Scots banned from visiting other homes
NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday blew a hole in UK unity on tackling the second wave of Covid-19 by imposing tougher restrictions than Boris Johnson.
She banned people in Scotland from visiting other households indoors yesterday despite it still being allowed in England.
The prohibition on socialising followed a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee Cobra at which Mr Johnson discussed the new curbs with Miss Sturgeon and the leaders of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Miss Sturgeon has repeatedly gone further in introducing strict rules to tackle the pandemic – some of which have later been copied by Westminster ministers.
If her approach proves more successful it could put the Prime Minister under pressure to introduce similar restrictions for England.
The Scottish First Minister’s announcement yesterday came after Mr Johnson appeared to urge the four nations to stick together.
The PM told MPs: ‘ The measures I have announced all apply in England and the devolved administrations are taking similar steps.
‘I spoke yesterday with each of the first ministers again today and I thank them for their collaboration: the health of everyone in these islands depends on our common success.’
Miss Sturgeon said household visits will be banned across Scotland to bring the virus ‘back under control’.
In keeping with restrictions in England, she said restaurants and pubs will have to close at 10pm from Friday. She said she is keeping under review the idea of having a so- called ‘circuit breaker’, a short period of nationwide lockdown.
Mr Johnson has, so far, ruled it out for England and has not announced any changes to a ban on household meetings of more than six people.
Earlier, the PM’s official spokesman said of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: ‘Broadly, you will see the four parts of the United Kingdom travelling in the same direction... to deal with the second wave of coronavirus.
‘There will be some distinctions in the guidance which will reflect local data. But there was a broad agreement on working closely together.’
The spokesman later insisted millions in England were already living under similar restrictions to Scotland locally.
Northern Ireland will face a ban on households mixing indoors as well.
People in Wales could be asked to make essential journeys only and further restrictions may come in London.