Scottish secretary: Sturgeon ‘reckless’

Nicola Sturgeon has been branded “reckless” and “irresponsible” after suggesting travellers arriving in Scotland from England may have to be quarantined if infection rates rise south of the border.

The first minister said on Monday that she had no plans at present for any special measures, but pointed at decisions by US states such as New York and New Jersey to quarantine travellers from US hotspots.

“I’ve no plans to introduce anything like this just now but I’m not ruling anything out, if it’s required from a public health perspective,” Ms Sturgeon said earlier this week.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack described the comments as “divisive” and said any such move would be bad for business.

Mr Jack, speaking in the Commons, said: “What’s deeply regrettable is that the first minister has encouraged reckless talk.

“This talk of quarantining people from other parts of the United Kingdom is disappointing, it’s divisive.

“It’s not the language which we should be hearing from our first minister because it undermines the joint efforts we’ve had in tackling Covid-19.”

Meanwhile, at Prime Minister’s Questions north-east MP Andrew Bowie asked Boris Johnson: “Does he not share my anger and the frustration of the Scottish tourist sector, just as it’s getting back on its feet, that it’s having the legs pulled out from under it by deeply irresponsible, damaging and divisive talk of arbitrary border closures and quarantining of visitors from across the United Kingdom?”

“I must say I found the suggestion absolutely astonishing,” Mr Johnson responded.