Dominic Raab denied the Westminster government is behind Scotland in publishing an exit strategy for the coronavirus lockdown.
The Foreign Secretary dismissed comparisons after Labour leader Keir Starmer warned England could be falling behind Scotland, Wales and other countries if the UK Government does not publish an exit strategy soon.
The Labour leader, on his second outing at Prime Minister's Questions, said: “Delay risks not only falling behind other countries, but also the successful four-nation approach so far.”
Raab, standing in for Boris Johnson, claimed a Scottish government document, published last week to outline the options for lifting lockdown, did not go further than wider UK policy.
Downing Street has suggested it would set out ideas for easing the lockdown later this week, but that was before Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds had her baby.
The UK government has not issued guidance on wearing face masks in public, which Nicola Sturgeon suggested people do as a precaution and her chief medical officer Jason Leitch has said could become mandatory.
The Foreign Secretary told MPs: “The Scottish Government has not set out an exit strategy. I read through very carefully their 25-page document, it was eminently sensible and it was grounded in the five tests that I set out on April 16.”
Meanwhile, Raab underlined the UK Government refusal to agree a Brexit extension. He insisted the UK must “double down” to secure a deal by the end of this year.
Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster leader, said: “Refusing to admit the inevitability of an extension isn’t a tough or a clever negotiating tactic, it’s a reckless and a foolish gamble."
