Border protest ‘not something I endorse,’ says Sturgeon

A PROTEST on the border with England should not damage Scotland’s reputation as an open and welcoming nation, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The First Minister made clear she did “not endorse” the demonstration on the A1 at the weekend.

Pro-independence supporters hung a banner saying “Staycation – Keep Scotland CovidFree” beneath the official Welcome To Scotland sign.

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw branded the group – which included a PPEwearing protester saying they wanted visitors from England to “stay the f*** out”, an “absolute disgrace” as he urged Ms Sturgeon to condemn their behaviour.

“I can’t stop people waving SNP banners but I can be very clear they don’t speak for us,” she said.

“I can’t be clearer than I have been – the SNP is an open and welcoming party, Scotland is an open and welcoming country and that kind of protest is not something I condone or endorse in any way shape or form.”

Her comments came after Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf branded the incident “horrible, reprehensible and vile”.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I agree with Humza Yousaf’s comments about racism.

“The people who protested at the border did not speak for me, they were not there on my behalf and they were not communicating a message that I endorse in any way.

“In fact I would emphatically say I don’t endorse that.”

The First Minister has refused to rule out introducing border restrictions between Scotland and England if these are needed to help combat the spread of coronavirus.