Nicola Sturgeon shut down by Charlie Stayt in heated clash over Scotland’s exit strategy

BBC Breakfast host Charlie Stayt was clear to find out what Scotland’s First Minister had planned to phase out the lockdown after she outlined her exit strategy and restoring a “degree of normality” to every day life yesterday. Her plan looked set to be consistent with the rest of the UK and Stayt was keen to find out more this morning.

Stayt explained an earlier guest on BBC Breakfast, Matt Hancock, claimed Sturgeon had no actually set out a detailed plan for Scotland’s exit strategy.

Determined to find out if this was the case, Stayt probed: “Now, we spoke to Matt Hancock just a few minutes ago on the programme, not sure if you heard the interview.

“But we asked about what you said yesterday about your plan and the proposals you had laid out for the Scottish people, which is a point you have made many times, you want to be open with people.

“His response was, ‘Nicola Sturgeon, he named you specifically, had not set out what the Scottish government will do.’ Is that at odds of what you thought you had done?”

“Well, I didn’t hear Matt Hancock so I’m not going to comment,” Sturgeon hit back, refusing to answer.

But Stayt wasn’t happy with her response and gave some assistance by reminding her of Mr Hancock’s exact quote and demanding an answer.

He replied: “Well that is the quote, let me help you so there’s no confusion.

“His quote was, ‘Nicola Sturgeon did not set out what the Scottish government will do.’”

“If he meant, I did not set out here’s what restrictions we will lift on what day, then yes he is right, I didn’t,” Sturgeon admitted exasperatedly. “And I didn’t say that yesterday.”

The First Minister continued: “I set out the document is called a Framework for Decision Making, to try and set out to people some of the factors we have to take into account over the next period, how we will seek to do that, the different issues that we have to balance.

“I guess what I’m trying to say to people is this is really difficult and I don’t have all of the answers as First Minister. This is unprecedented, there’s no certainty.”

Sturgeon added she did not set out any specifics about her exit strategy for Scotland and it was important everyone continue to follow lockdown rules.

Earlier in the interview, Sturgeon insisted she would do what is best for Scotland not because it is the best political move.

She explained: “Let’s be very clear about this, I don’t come at this from any political angle or constitutional perspective, I want to do what is best to suppress this virus as far as we can while allowing some semblance of normality to come back into our lives.

“I don’t start from the premise that we must do everything at the same time across the UK, nor do I start from the premise that we have to do things differently in Scotland.

“My decisions will be driven by what is best to tackle this virus and reduce its harms.

“We are working well as four nations, the virus doesn’t respect the border between Scotland and England, and England and Wales so we must make sure we try and align our decision making as much as possible but where it makes sense and there are reasons to do so.”

Sturgeon continued: “We announced the closure of schools in Scotland slightly ahead, not much, but slightly ahead of the rest of the UK.

“These are the kind of decisions we have to make but for good reasons not driven in any way, shape or form by political considerations, that is just not appropriate at all given the nature of what we’re dealing with.”

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am.

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