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Coronavirus: Concerns over cross-border lockdown exit strategy Coronavirus: Concerns over cross-border lockdown exit strategy
(about 4 hours later)
An MSP has raised concerns about any inconsistencies in lockdown exit strategy between the UK and Scottish governments. An MSP has raised concerns about potential inconsistencies in lockdown exit strategy between the UK and Scottish governments.
Colin Smyth said there was “little difference” in the path of coronavirus in areas like Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway.Colin Smyth said there was “little difference” in the path of coronavirus in areas like Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway.
He said any variance in strategies would only “add to confusion” and be “impossible to implement”.He said any variance in strategies would only “add to confusion” and be “impossible to implement”.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said such issues would be considered.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said such issues would be considered.
Mr Smyth, a Scottish Labour MSP for the South Scotland region, told the Scottish Parliament that a co-ordinated approach was particularly important in border communities. Mr Smyth, a Scottish Labour MSP for the South Scotland region, told the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday that a co-ordinated approach was particularly important in border communities.
He said that areas like the Borders and Northumberland needed to see “the right exit strategy for both sides of the border”.He said that areas like the Borders and Northumberland needed to see “the right exit strategy for both sides of the border”.
He highlighted his concerns about nearby communities having “completely different” approaches. He warned about the dangers of nearby communities having “completely different” approaches.
His concerns were later reiterated by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme.
"We are strongly of the view that there needs to be a cross-border approach," he said.
"The national clinical director said recently that Orkney is not the same as Oxford Street but that raises considerations about what the implication of a differentiated approach would be to the south of Scotland.
"We think there needs to be cross-party but also a cross-border approach."
Ms Sturgeon said the decision on how to exit lockdown was not an ideological or political one and would be based on what was right “in order to protect the people whom we serve”.Ms Sturgeon said the decision on how to exit lockdown was not an ideological or political one and would be based on what was right “in order to protect the people whom we serve”.
“People move around the different parts of the UK - that issue will be particularly acute in the border communities to which the member referred," she said.“People move around the different parts of the UK - that issue will be particularly acute in the border communities to which the member referred," she said.
"It is also the case that for simplicity of messaging, the more uniformity and consistency there is, the easier it is to get messages across."It is also the case that for simplicity of messaging, the more uniformity and consistency there is, the easier it is to get messages across.
"However, I will be driven by what the advice, with my judgement applied, tells me is the right thing to do to protect people in Scotland.”"However, I will be driven by what the advice, with my judgement applied, tells me is the right thing to do to protect people in Scotland.”
She said that meant that when it was “right to do so” they would operate on a consistent UK-wide basis.She said that meant that when it was “right to do so” they would operate on a consistent UK-wide basis.
However, she said that when they thought it was right to do something “slightly differently” in Scotland they would.However, she said that when they thought it was right to do something “slightly differently” in Scotland they would.