FM says more lives would be put at risk by any changes to 2m rule

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said relaxing the Covid-19 two-metre social distancing rule would cost lives as she faced questions over a “tidal wave” of Scottish job losses.

At First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon was urged to take action to protect the hundreds of jobs at risk, including those at the Crieff Hydro group, Forfar’s Don & Low and Fishers in Perth.

The economic damage was raised by Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie after SNP economist Andrew Wilson appeared to suggest the two metrerule should be eased “to get the balance right for jobs”.

Mr Wilson, a former SNP MSP, wrote the SNP’S Growth Commission, the party’s 2017 blueprint for Scottish independence that was commissioned by the first minister.

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I’m not prepared to be reckless about any of it.

NICOLA STURGEON

Ms Sturgeon said all the advice she had received was against a change, but she would monitor the situation.

She warned that if a “wrong” decision was made “people can die and that’s why I’m not prepared to be reckless about any of it”.

Ms Sturgeon admitted the economic emergency facing Scotland was “colossal” and raised the prospect of more companies being nationalised by the government in order to save jobs.

Mr Rennie pointed to data suggesting one in 10 workers could be out of a job this year.

Ms Sturgeon said a Cabinet sub-committee has been discussing the economy since the start of the crisis and an advisory group is to publish its report in the coming weeks.

Mr Rennie said: “My fear is that the tidal wave is overtaking the advisory group and the work that the first minister has just set out.”