Sturgeon plays down ‘bubbles’

Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the coronavirus crisis is “not a popularity contest” as she played down the prospect of Scotland immediately copying “support bubbles” in England.

The First Minister said Scots could “call me boring” after she refused to be drawn on the measure announced by Boris Johnson south of the Border, which will allow people living alone to stay at one other household.

Ms Sturgeon insisted she would “stick to the plan” which the Scottish Government has set out but said that further easing on social interaction may be introduced next week at the next review of lockdown.

“Call me boring if you want, but I’m going to stick to the plan here to try to get Scotland through this as safely and as sustainably as possible,” she told the daily coronavirus briefing.

“I’ve said all along this is not a popularity contest - my fundamental duty as First Minister right now is to the best of my ability to steer this country as safely as I can to through the biggest crisis any of us have ever lived through.”

She added: “What I’m trying to do is make changes and take decisions in a way that gives people as much of their lives back as quickly as possible, but protects us from this virus. We can’t take our eye off that ball. That’s why I’m trying to do things really carefully.”

Mr Johnson announced yesterday that, from Saturday, single adults can spend the night at another house in a “support bubble”. No 10 said the change aims to help combat loneliness and that people are being trusted to observe the rules.

Ms Sturgeon said the move to phase two in Scotland will be considered in a week.

“We will be considering all the things in stage two, which includes greater social interaction for individuals. I want to get people able to see more of their families and friends.”