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Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says response shows 'might of UK union' Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says response shows 'might of UK union'
(32 minutes later)
The response to the coronavirus pandemic has shown the "sheer might" of the UK union, Boris Johnson has said ahead of Thursday's visit to Scotland. The response to the coronavirus pandemic has shown the "sheer might" of the UK union, Boris Johnson has said as he arrived on a visit to Scotland.
The trip, a year on since he became PM, will see Mr Johnson meet members of the armed forces and their families. Mr Johnson is in Orkney and the north of Scotland one year on from the day he took office as prime minister.
He said troops had done "vital work" to support the NHS during the pandemic and praised Treasury job retention schemes. He said the work of the military and Treasury job retention schemes had proved the "merits of the union".
But the SNP said the visit showed Mr Johnson was "in a panic" about rising support for Scottish independence.But the SNP said the visit showed Mr Johnson was "in a panic" about rising support for Scottish independence.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she had no plans to meet Mr Johnson, but that she would continue work with his government on the "immediate priority" of tackling coronavirus.Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she had no plans to meet Mr Johnson, but that she would continue work with his government on the "immediate priority" of tackling coronavirus.
Mr Johnson said he "pledged to be a prime minister for every corner of the United Kingdom", adding that the response to the pandemic had shown his government's commitment to the whole of the UK.Mr Johnson said he "pledged to be a prime minister for every corner of the United Kingdom", adding that the response to the pandemic had shown his government's commitment to the whole of the UK.
The UK government has coordinated much of the UK's economic response to the virus, including the coronavirus job retention furlough scheme.The UK government has coordinated much of the UK's economic response to the virus, including the coronavirus job retention furlough scheme.
But devolved governments have had control over most public health measures and have been able to set country-specific timetables and messaging. But devolved governments have had control over most public health measures and have been able to set more local timetables and messaging.
Although the whole of the UK entered lockdown in the same week, each constituent part has eased restrictions in a different way and at a different rate. Although the whole of the UK entered lockdown in the same week, each constituent part has eased restrictions at a different rate.
Phase 3 of Scotland's "route map" out of lockdown began last week, as pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and barbers were allowed to reopen.Phase 3 of Scotland's "route map" out of lockdown began last week, as pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and barbers were allowed to reopen.
They were allowed to reopen in England slightly earlier on 4 July, along with holiday accommodation - including hotels, B&Bs, cottages, campsites and caravan parks.They were allowed to reopen in England slightly earlier on 4 July, along with holiday accommodation - including hotels, B&Bs, cottages, campsites and caravan parks.
This visit is, first of all, an exercise in power.This visit is, first of all, an exercise in power.
The prime minister is stressing the power of the UK Treasury; the power of the armed might of the UK in the fight against coronavirus.The prime minister is stressing the power of the UK Treasury; the power of the armed might of the UK in the fight against coronavirus.
But if it's only about power and might, that's like jingoism or imperialism and the prime minister is alert to that.But if it's only about power and might, that's like jingoism or imperialism and the prime minister is alert to that.
So I think he will also say that it's about a combined bond - a bond forged by the union over 300 years between the peoples of England and Scotland.So I think he will also say that it's about a combined bond - a bond forged by the union over 300 years between the peoples of England and Scotland.
It isn't just about the clout of cash and arms. Boris Johnson has called himself the Minister for the Union as well as the prime minister and so, for him, this trek north of the border is an attempt to defend the Union as he sees it from a substantial and substantive threat.It isn't just about the clout of cash and arms. Boris Johnson has called himself the Minister for the Union as well as the prime minister and so, for him, this trek north of the border is an attempt to defend the Union as he sees it from a substantial and substantive threat.
Mr Johnson said ahead of his visit: "The last six months have shown exactly why the historic and heartfelt bond that ties the four nations of our country together is so important and the sheer might of our union has been proven once again. Whole country
"In Scotland, the UK's magnificent armed forces have been on the ground doing vital work to support the NHS, from setting up and running mobile testing sites to airlifting critically-ill patients to hospitals from some of Scotland's most remote communities. Speaking in Orkney, where he met local fishermen, Mr Johnson said the "merits of the union" had been "proved throughout this crisis", citing the work of the military and the Treasury's support for workers and firms.
"And the UK Treasury stepped in to save the jobs of a third of Scotland's entire workforce and kept the wolves at bay for tens of thousands of Scottish businesses. The UK government says the furlough and self-employment schemes have supported 900,000 jobs in Scotland.
"More than ever, this shows what we can achieve when we stand together, as one United Kingdom." The prime minister also said not enough time had passed for another independence referendum to be held, saying the 2014 vote was a "once in a generation" event.
He said: "What I'm saying is that the union is a fantastically strong institution. It's helped our country through thick and thin.
"It's very, very valuable in terms of the support we've been able to give to everybody throughout all corners of the UK, and we had a referendum on breaking up the union a few years ago - I think only six years ago. That is not a generation by any computation and I think what people really want to do is see our whole country coming back strongly together, and that's what we're going to do."
'Decided by politicians''Decided by politicians'
The UK government said the furlough and self-employment schemes had supported 900,000 jobs in Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon tweeted that the prime minister's visit to Scotland "highlighted the argument for Scottish independence".Ms Sturgeon tweeted that the prime minister's visit to Scotland "highlighted the argument for Scottish independence".
She said: "I welcome the PM to Scotland today. She said: "I welcome the PM to Scotland today. One of the key arguments for independence is the ability of Scotland to take our own decisions, rather than having our future decided by politicians we didn't vote for, taking us down a path we haven't chosen. His presence highlights that."
"One of the key arguments for independence is the ability of Scotland to take our own decisions, rather than having our future decided by politicians we didn't vote for, taking us down a path we haven't chosen. His presence highlights that."
The PM is also to set out details of a £50m funding package for Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, the latest in a series of "city and region deals" which see the Scottish and UK governments each pledge cash to various areas for spending on new infrastructure and local development schemes.The PM is also to set out details of a £50m funding package for Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, the latest in a series of "city and region deals" which see the Scottish and UK governments each pledge cash to various areas for spending on new infrastructure and local development schemes.
The Scottish government is also committing £50m to the "Islands growth deal", which will target sectors including tourism, energy and skills.The Scottish government is also committing £50m to the "Islands growth deal", which will target sectors including tourism, energy and skills.
The timing of Mr Johnson's visit comes amid a "perfect storm" over Scottish independence, according to Sir Tom Devine, an emeritus professor of Scottish history at Edinburgh University.The timing of Mr Johnson's visit comes amid a "perfect storm" over Scottish independence, according to Sir Tom Devine, an emeritus professor of Scottish history at Edinburgh University.
Sir Tom told BBC Two's Newsnight the union is in its most fragile condition since 1745, and that opinion polling suggesting increasing support for independence in Scotland has been consistent for some time.Sir Tom told BBC Two's Newsnight the union is in its most fragile condition since 1745, and that opinion polling suggesting increasing support for independence in Scotland has been consistent for some time.
Newsnight's political editor Nick Watt added that a senior SNP source had told him they believed the party's moment "is at last arriving".Newsnight's political editor Nick Watt added that a senior SNP source had told him they believed the party's moment "is at last arriving".
At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Mr Johnson was visiting due to recent polls suggesting support for independence was on the rise.At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Mr Johnson was visiting due to recent polls suggesting support for independence was on the rise.
Mr Blackford told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the prime minister's message would go down "particularly badly" in Scotland.Mr Blackford told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the prime minister's message would go down "particularly badly" in Scotland.
"I think what we've demonstrated over the course of the last few months [is] that in the areas of devolved responsibility, in the areas of public health, the leadership that's been shown by our first minister is in sharp contrast to the bluster that we've seen from Boris Johnson," he said."I think what we've demonstrated over the course of the last few months [is] that in the areas of devolved responsibility, in the areas of public health, the leadership that's been shown by our first minister is in sharp contrast to the bluster that we've seen from Boris Johnson," he said.
At her coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon said she had "no plans" to meet Mr Johnson on this trip, but is "always happy to meet the prime minister if he wants to do so".At her coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon said she had "no plans" to meet Mr Johnson on this trip, but is "always happy to meet the prime minister if he wants to do so".
She added: "We're all very focused on the immediate priority of continuing to suppress Covid and I look forward to working with the UK government on that basis.She added: "We're all very focused on the immediate priority of continuing to suppress Covid and I look forward to working with the UK government on that basis.
"We have got our political disagreements, and disagreements over aspects of Scotland and the UK's future, and I'm sure we'll continue to discuss those constructively as well.""We have got our political disagreements, and disagreements over aspects of Scotland and the UK's future, and I'm sure we'll continue to discuss those constructively as well."
Ms Sturgeon has previously suggested that her government's response to the pandemic was helping convince Scots of the merits of independence.Ms Sturgeon has previously suggested that her government's response to the pandemic was helping convince Scots of the merits of independence.
In an interview with Scotland on Sunday marking her 50th birthday, she said: "As we have stopped shouting about independence, and shouting to ourselves about how we go about getting independence, and just focused on [dealing with the crisis].In an interview with Scotland on Sunday marking her 50th birthday, she said: "As we have stopped shouting about independence, and shouting to ourselves about how we go about getting independence, and just focused on [dealing with the crisis].
"It has allowed people to take a step back and say 'well actually that's the benefit of autonomous decision-making' and also 'perhaps things would be better if we had a bit more autonomous decision-making,' and to come to their own conclusions.""It has allowed people to take a step back and say 'well actually that's the benefit of autonomous decision-making' and also 'perhaps things would be better if we had a bit more autonomous decision-making,' and to come to their own conclusions."