Nicola Sturgeon has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for urgent four-nation talks to tighten lockdown restrictions to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
The First Minister has pointed to scientific opinion that bringing the virus back under control will require measures beyond those announced so far.
She also highlighted that devolved administrations’ ability to take action is curtailed by a lack of financial levers to deliver economic support.
Here's the letter in full:
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Dear Boris,
This week marks a pivotal moment in our collective response to COVID-19 as further measures have been introduced in each part of the UK.
While there are some difference in the approaches that have been taken, it has been helpful to discuss next steps from the perspective of all four nations and identify areas where a broadly consistent approach can be taken. I appreciated our conversation on Monday and the discussion at COBR on Tuesday.
The collective agreement yesterday of the four nations to drive COVID transmission to the lowest possible level and keep it there was particularly welcome. However, I am sure you will agree that we must all now act in a manner that can achieve that objective.
While all four governments announced new restrictions yesterday, there is clearly a significant strand of scientific opinion to the effect that bringing R back below 1 and the virus back under control will require measures beyond those which any of us have so far announced. In my view there is considerable force in that opinion. It is also the case - and we know this from our experience earlier in the year - that acting quickly and decisively against the virus is essential. In other words, if we believe further action will be required, there is nothing to be gained and potentially much to be lost, including lives - from delay.
Therefore, I am writing to request further and urgent four nations discussion on three inter-related questions.
Firstly, based on our most recent data, what further actions do we consider might be necessary and is it possible to reach early four nations agreement on introducing them?
Secondly, given the further restrictions will inevitably have an economic impact, what support is required for affected sectors?
And third, if it is not possible to reach a four nations agreement on further restrictions with associated support, what arrangements can be put in place to ensure that devolved administrations are not constrained in making what we judge to be essential public health decision because we lack the financial flexibility to provide support to affected sectors or individuals?
At present, the ability of the Scottish Government and I believe the other devolved administrations, to take action we consider is required, for example on hospitality, is curtailed by our lack of levers to deliver the necessary economic support.
I appreciate that there are no easy answers in all of this, but the scale and urgency of the situation we face demands that we all work together to find solutions.
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The Scottish Government has made suggestions in recent weeks and months about economic support - for example, the extension of furlough which we hope to hear positive news on tomorrow from the chancellor - and areas of additional fiscal flexibly for the devolved administrations.
We would be keen to discuss these and any other suggestions further - and the urgent context of each of us being able to take the decisions necessary to bring COVID back under control as quickly as possible.
I would be grateful to hear from you in very early course. And I would be happy to have a call with you or Micheal Gove to discuss in more detail how we might progress these discussions with the urgency they demand.
Nicola Sturgeon
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