Boris Johnson sacks top pro-Union adviser amid fallout over ‘utterly reckless’ trip to Scottish vaccine plant

Scotland's route map out of lockdown will be revealed today as Nicola Sturgeon outlines when and how restrictions will be lifted.It follow Boris Johnson's lockdown announcement, with England's measures set out in a four-step exit strategy which will begin on March 8 and covers everything from socialising to hairdressers.Scotland's mainland has been in a full-blown lockdown for more than a month now, with non-essential shops, bars, pubs and cafes shut in a bid to curb soaring cases.The First

pupils in P1-3 comes with a warning that Scots have to stick to the rules and be patient while the mass vaccination programme continues to work its way round the country.Calls are growing on the Scottish and UK governments to set out a safe return to “normality” as evidence starts to build about the positive impact of the Covid-19 jags.Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson are both preparing to set out their route maps to lifting harsh rules as coronavirus gets beaten back.Yesterday, a key adviser

budget.Party strategists hailed the “fantastic news” as Scots prepare for an election in May.But the Tory opposition leader warned the focus is a damaging distraction during the pandemic and financial crisis.There is no date for a second referendum and Prime Minister Boris Johnson opposes all calls for another vote.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has suggested one in the next parliamentary session, assuming an SNP victory in May.

caused uproar last year when he dismissed the opening of the Scottish Parliament as Tony Blair's "biggest mistake".Devolution - which meant power was taken from Westminster and handed to devolved governments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast - was a key policy introduced by the New Labour government in 1997.It was bitterly opposed by many Conservatives at the time and suspicion has lingered that Boris Johnson remained against it.But the Tory leader has now rowed back on his comments and insisted

is on course for a majority of seats at May's Holyrood election while support for independence has also climbed over the last 12 months.Carwyn Jones, who led Welsh Labour from 2009 until 2018, said this popularity was partly a response to the "English nationalist" outlook of the UK Government led by Johnson.He said it would be "very difficult to oppose" for the Prime Minister to oppose an IndyRef2 if the Nationalists won a majority as expected.And the former Welsh Assembly leader warned that

no reason bars cannot open in April, as its boss expressed exasperation at ministers “lack of interest”.The Young's brewing conglomerate today called on Boris Johnson to “do the right thing” and show strong leadership when the industry “needs it most”.Scotland's hospitality industry has been shut since December, with pubs in much of the central belt closed since October.Nicola Sturgeon will update MSPs on the Scottish Government lockdown strategy on Tuesday, but there is so far no indication of

independence even further.

Sign up to the M.E.N.'s Manchester Family newsletter for all the latest from school closures to ways to entertain the kidsBoris Johnson has refused to bow to pressure over when schools should reopen.The Prime Minister has currently set a date of March 8, as the earliest point at which schools in England could open again.His decision has led to a backlash from some Tory MPs, who argue that given the success of the vaccine, lockdown could be eased sooner.It comes as the Scottish First Minister,

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coronavirus  outbreak at the site. The  Prime Minister  went to Valneva, in Livingston, last Thursday during a  controversial trip north.

the Reformer the visit was to help the Prime Minister be “accessible” during a national emergency, and during his stop he spoke to troops setting up the centre and volunteers there.

the First Minister described as “non-essential”, the Prime Minister dismissed demands for a referendum as “completely irrelevant to the concerns of most people”.In an interview for the media pool the Tory leader defended his visit to meet army and health professionals involved in the vaccine roll-out across Scotland.He said: “I’m here in my capacity as Prime Minister of the whole country to thank hard-working officials and public servants across the whole of Britain who are doing fantastic

Boris Johnson’s trip north. Members of the public have contacted them claiming the trip is breaking strict lockdown rules.

lockdown despite First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticising it as “not essential”. Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, said: “The Prime Minister has a responsibility and a role to make sure the vaccine roll-out is proceeding appropriately, to thank those on the front line, NHS professionals and those in the British Army who are making sure things work well.”“It’s absolutely right, the Prime Minister should be there talking to those who are involved in that effort.

coronavirus vaccine, providing testing and giving financial support throughout the pandemic. The Prime Minister 's visit has been deemed "not essential" by Nicola Sturgeon who emphasised that cross-border travelling was still discouraged.

Boris Johnson makes a pitstop visit to Scotland tomorrow to boast of a list of benefits the Union brings in the fight against coronavirus.