SNP calls for PM to get tough on border closures

The UK’ s borders should be closed to “all but essential travel” to stop the new strains entering the UK, the SNP has said.

It comes as senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper warned halting flights to and from South Africa is not enough to stop the new strain found there entering the UK.

Ian Blackford, the S NP’ sW est minster leader, made the plea after warning the UK Government must “act in a timely manner” to respond to the pandemic.

The government is due to set out its plans in the coming days with the introduction of predeparture testing expected.

Responding to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Commons statement, Mr Blackford said: “Is the prime minister prepared to learn from his government’ s past mistakes? Will he consider closing the UK border to all but essential travel to prevent new strains of the virus spreading?”

Mr Johnson replied: “We will make sure we protect our borders from readmission of the virus and he has seen what we did already in the case of the South African strain – and we’ ll bring for ward further measures to stop readmission of the virus.”

Later, Ms Cooper, the chair woman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said the prime minister is “kidding himself ” if he believes halting flights between the UK and South Africa is enough.

She said: “Rightly, the government has stopped direct flights from South Africa.

“The South Africa variant is already identified in France, Austria, Norway, Japan, Australia – and, currently, our border checks are weak and not taken seriously.”