Boris Johnson has asked Nicola Sturgeon to “work closely” with him on delivering vaccine boosters as he snubbed her invitation for a meeting.
The prime minister arrives in Scotland today for a visit that is part of efforts by ministers to appear more regularly north of the border.
The first minister wrote to Johnson inviting him to Bute House, her official residence in Edinburgh, for what would have been their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the pandemic. Senior Conservatives dismissed it as a cynical move because the SNP leader knew the itinerary planned by No 10 would not allow space for a last-minute meeting to be added.
In a letter sent to Sturgeon last night, Johnson in effect rejected the offer but said he was still “keen to arrange an in-person meeting with you and the other first ministers” to build on the “constructive discussions we had earlier this summer”. He said the shared priority of recovering from the pandemic would be the main topic of any future talks.
“I am particularly keen that we work closely together on the vaccination booster campaign this autumn, which will be crucial as we continue to tackle the pandemic,” Johnson wrote.
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The prime minister last visited Scotland in January during lockdown, when Sturgeon said his trip was “not essential”. In July 2019 he left by the back door of the first minister’s official residence, apparently to avoid protesters.
The visit comes as senior SNP figures prepare to restart the push for a second independence referendum.
Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, has shifted the UK government’s approach to the Union away from aggressive confrontation with the SNP to a “show, not tell” approach that will include injecting money directly into areas that need attention as the country emerges from the pandemic, even if it means encroaching on devolved responsibilities. It is hoped that this, as well as regular appearances by ministers in Scotland to show how work being done by Whitehall affects people north of the border, will help convince voters to turn away from independence.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, will also be in Scotland this week.
At its party conference next month, the SNP will consider a series of proposals for another referendum. Motions put forward include placing plans for another ballot before the Scottish parliament “at the earliest moment” after a “clear end” to the public health crisis.
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Johnson has repeatedly said that he will not countenance a second referendum. Last weekend Gove said that such a vote would occur only when there was clear public support for one.
Polls have shown that the majority of Scots do not want another referendum on Sturgeon’s timetable, which would involve people going back to the polls before the end of 2023.
•The prime minister has decided to take a staycation this month rather than going abroad for his summer holidays, according to The Daily Telegraph. Johnson visited Scotland with his wife, Carrie, and son, Wilfred, last year, although this summer’s destination is yet to be confirmed.
