Boris Johnson ‘snubs’ Nicola Sturgeon after she offers to meet with him during visit to Scotland
- Boris Johnson has snubbed the SNP Leader’s invitation to meet when he visits
- Ms Sturgeon wanted to meet Tory leader in Edinburgh to discuss Covid recovery
- But Mr Johnson is said to have suggested they hold talk with other leaders later
- It came after police named guard operation for Tory leader ‘Operation Bunter’
- The name of the operation was later scrapped over fears it may offender him
Boris Johnson has snubbed Nicola Sturgeon’s offer to meet her when he visits Scotland this week.
First Minister Ms Sturgeon had urged Mr Johnson to discuss the coronavirus recovery in Edinburgh.
But in his reply the PM instead suggested they hold talks with other first ministers at a later date.
It came after police in Scotland named a mission to guard Mr Johnson as Operation Bunter, but later scrapped the name over fears it would offend him.
In his letter, the Prime Minister said: ‘As I noted when we last met, I am keen to arrange an in-person meeting with you and the other first ministers and deputy first minister to build on the constructive discussions we had earlier this summer.
First Minister Ms Sturgeon had urged Boris Johnson (pictured) to discuss the coronavirus recovery in Edinburgh
‘We agreed then that we should establish a structured forum for ongoing engagement between the Government and the devolved administrations to deliver tangible outcomes in the interest of people throughout the UK.
‘There is much for us to discuss as all parts of the UK work together on our shared priority of recovering from the pandemic.
‘I understand our officials have made good progress on the details of this since we last spoke.’
Mr Johnson added: ‘I am particularly keen that we work closely together on the vaccination booster campaign this autumn which will be crucial as we continue to tackle the pandemic.
‘The UK Government has procured millions of vaccines for the entire United Kingdom and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government as we roll out booster jabs in line with JCVI’s advice.
‘The UK Government is working closely with the devolved Scottish Government on a variety of different issues.
Ms Sturgeon (pictured) acknowledged in her own letter on Monday she and Mr Johnson ‘differ politically’, but stressed the Scottish and UK governments must ‘work together where we can’
‘I know that you have been meeting regularly with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, but I look forward to meeting with you soon and working together in the interests of people in all parts of our country.’
Ms Sturgeon acknowledged in her own letter on Monday she and Mr Johnson ‘differ politically’, but stressed the Scottish and UK governments must ‘work together where we can’.
It comes after she confirmed most of Scotland’s remaining coronavirus restrictions are to be scrapped from Monday – which she hailed as ‘perhaps the most significant date so far’ in the pandemic.
From August 9, Scotland will move ‘beyond Level 0’ with the removal of most restrictions such as physical distancing and the size of social gatherings.
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