Nicola Sturgeon has said she does not feel “snubbed” by Boris Johnson's failure to meet her on his two-day visit to Scotland but believes it is a “missed opportunity”.
The First Minister had made a public offer earlier in the week to meet the Tory Prime Minister to discuss the national recovery from the pandemic.
In a letter to the PM, which the SNP leader then posted on Twitter, she said both the Scottish and UK Government must "work together" where they can.
Johnson replied to Sturgeon last night stating he was "keen" to meet soon but just not this time.
Speaking to broadcasters today, the SNP leader said: “I don’t feel snubbed. I think most people will think it’s a bit odd, and a bit strange, that we’ve got a Prime Minister visiting Scotland who talks a lot, rightly, about the need – despite our political differences – for us to work together where we can on getting through Covid and into Covid recovery but doesn’t take the opportunity when in Scotland to come and talk to me directly about how we might co-operate and work together.
“I think people will just find that strange and it’s for Boris Johnson to explain, I suppose, why.
“This would be the first opportunity, given Covid, for us to sit down, appropriately socially distanced and have a face-to-face chat. I think it would have been a good opportunity.
“I was getting ready to welcome him to Bute House today. There’s lots that Boris Johnson and I fundamentally disagree on but we both lead governments that are trying to get our countries through Covid and so there’s a lot for us to co-operate on.
“So, you know, missed opportunity but that’s on him. I stand ready to work with whoever, however I can to get Scotland through Covid and into recovery.”
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