Nicola Sturgeon has warned Boris Johnson to obey the rules like “anybody else” as the Tory leader prepares for a staycation north of the border.
The First Minister sounded the cheeky warning as it’s understood the Prime Minister will head off on a summer holiday next week.
He is expected to visit Scotland with his fiancee Carrie Symonds and their baby son Wilfred – amid claims they’ll even go camping.
The PM’s official spokesman confirmed: “I would expect him to be away for one week later on this month.”
No10 confirmed he would take his holiday in the UK but did not confirm or deny claims the PM will go camping.
Further details will be confirmed closer to the time, the spokesman said.
(Image: Downing Street)
Scotland’s First Minister said the Prime Minister must be mindful of the country’s remaining lockdown rules – most of which are fairly similar to England’s.
However, there are subtle differences in the guidance.
For instance, gatherings are still limited to up to five households outdoors or three households indoors.
And guidance prohibits the Prime Minister from taking his holiday to the city of Aberdeen, where all pubs have closed due to a coronavirus outbreak.
When asked at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Monday about the reports, Ms Sturgeon urged him and anyone else coming for a “staycation” to follow local advice.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
She said: “Whether it’s the Prime Minister or anyone coming to Scotland, I can’t wait for the date where I can say ‘everyone come to Scotland and holiday’ because we’re over the worst of this virus but right now we need to encourage everybody whether they’re living in Scotland or visiting Scotland to take great care.
“So, whether it’s the Prime Minister or anybody else, when you’re in Scotland – and you should hopefully be doing this wherever you live – abide by all the advice.”
She added: “If we all do that where we are then we’ve got the best chance of keeping it under control.”
Boris Johnson is expected to split his time working this week between Downing Street and his grace-and-favour country pile Chequers before he sets off.
It came as Ms Sturgeon apologised for the fiasco which has seen Scottish pupils’ exam grades downgraded – shattering hopes for many teens’ future.
(Image: Daily Record)
Ms Sturgeon said pupils who had their recent exam results downgraded will not all be expected to appeal.
Education Secretary John Swinney will set out a plan to rectify the matter at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.
She added: “Despite our best intentions, I do acknowledge we did not get this right and I’m sorry for that.
“The most immediate challenge is to resolve the grades awarded to pupils this year.
“We will not expect every student who has been downgraded to appeal.”
With no exams this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) applied a methodology whereby grades estimated by teachers were downgraded based on criteria included the historic performance of the school.
Pass rates for pupils in the most deprived data zones were reduced by 15.2% in comparison with 6.9% for pupils from the most affluent backgrounds.
Mr Swinney has faced calls to resign from opposition parties, with Scottish Labour set to mount a no-confidence vote against him in Holyrood and the Conservatives saying they will support it.
