Journalist Alan Cochrane claimed that for Scotland’s First Minister easing coronavirus restrictions “is very much taking second place”. Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Britain’s “extraordinary feat” for vaccinating 15 million people across the country.
He described it as a “significant milestone” which was reached just over two months after the first coronavirus jab was given in December.
Coronavirus cases in the UK have also gradually decreased since January, suggesting lockdown measures have improved the level of infections in the country.
Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Cochrane spoke about Scottish transport minister Michael Matheson’s “whinge” on Sunday.
He compared Mr Matheson’s comments on Scotland’s travel ban attempts to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s praising of the UK’s vaccination efforts.
Both politicians gave interviews on the same day, but Mr Cochrane believes Mr Raab gave a much more optimistic outlook on the pandemic in the UK.
He said: “We got another SNP whinge about ‘perfidious Albion’ over the fact that the dastardly English authorities wouldn’t help his government impose their total ban on foreigners entering Scotland.
“Rather than talk about lifting some of the restrictions now affecting Scots, the minister and his boss would much rather moan about the English.
“And yet, a quick glance at the data covering the pandemic strongly suggests that it’s time for some form of easing.
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“And thus his ministers see no reason why they should devote extra resources to enforce La Sturgeon’s crackdown, when it’s crystal clear that if a total ban is what she wants it is up to her to make it work.”
Mr Johnson is expected to publish a road map for easing restrictions in a week’s time.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister told CBS: “What you’re now seeing is [that] thanks to the efforts of the British people, the lockdown, plus possibly the effects of the vaccine, we’re going to see the rates coming down more sharply.”
The UK recorded 10,972 new COVID-19 cases and a further 258 deaths in the latest 24-hour period on Sunday.
This is around a 5,000 drop in new cases compared to figures released on Sunday 7 February.
