Nicola Sturgeon defends Bute House work as 'essential safety' repairs after lockdown painters row

Jeane Freeman said Scotland should hit its target of vaccinating 400,000 adults a week ahead of schedule this week - but added the programme will then “need to scale back a bit”.A drop in supply across all four UK nations is being caused by work being carried out by Pfizer – the manufacturer of one of the approved vaccines.The company is having to temporarily reduce output as part of an overall effort to increase manufacturing capacity amid worldwide demand for vaccines.Nicola Sturgeon said on

First Minister met with her Scottish Government Cabinet this morning where it was agreed that children in primaries one, two and three should provisionally return to class from the week beginning Monday, February 22. Pre-school nurseries would also reopen at the same time as part of a gradual reopening of the wider schools system.

Nicola Sturgeon said restrictions “are working” as infection levels dip, but in a statement at the Scottish Parliament warned the pandemic is still not under enough control. Sturgeon said: “The current lockdown, including the stay at home except for essential purposes requirement, needs to remain in place until at least the end of February.” Alarm at the spread of mutated covid-19 has forced the whole of the UK to cope with serious restrictions covering all aspects of daily life.

Our Politics newsletter is now daily.

Captain Tom Moore was unable to get coronavirus jab due to pneumonia treatmentThe UK Government has ordered an extra 40 million doses of the Valneva covid-vaccine which is being manufactured in Scotland.The move means 100 million doses of Valneva have now been put on order, enough for every adult in the UK, with the latest batch earmarked for delivery in 2022.It comes as Scotland’s vaccination programme gathers pace with the opening of major hubs in Edinburgh and Aberdeen from today.READ MORE:

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, will today say that the First Minister is willing to risk Scotland’s economic recovery by ramping up the SNP’s push for another referendum before Christmas The Tory leader will use a speech on Monday to respond to renewed SNP demands for a second re-run vote and the threat to legislate for a referendum without the Section 30 powers from the UK government.Ross hit out at the so-called wildcat referendum plan contained in Constitutional Secretary

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.

Our Politics newsletter is now daily.

Boris Johnson’s Government would announce today, but insisted her Government is prepared to go further.She said the UK plan was "minimal", adding that it was the "least" that can be done.A hotel quarantine system aimed at arrivals from high-risk countries is expected to be announced soon by the home secretary, Priti Patel.Johnson reportedly rejected calls for a blanket policy and is instead believed to support a targeted system for a limited number of countries such as South Africa and

Brian Matthews ended up with a social media ban after posting a fake photo of him partying with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Dubai.

Peter Murrell' s answers in front of MSPs.

police officer  claims lives are being put at risk after he and a colleague were called out to more than 80 homes for coronavirus rule breaches. He says they were forced to mix with  Covid rule-breakers  including dental and optician workers who were flouting lockdown regulations at the weekend.

Nicola Sturgeon’s official ­residence despite the ban by her own Government. A whistleblower told how a squad was sent into Bute House in Edinburgh for several days last week.

First Minister reacted after opponents again criticised the speed of the massive logistical programme north of the border. In Holyrood, Tory MSP Ruth Davidson claimed 717,000 doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca drugs had been received but more than 400,000 doses have yet to be given to patients.

First Minister will meet with members of her Cabinet this morning before making a statement in the Scottish Parliament around 2pm.

First Minister will meet with members of her Cabinet this morning before making a statement in the Scottish Parliament around 2pm.The SNP leader is not expected to impose more lockdown rules but is likely to give more detail on how long current restrictions will have to remain in place.Speaking at her regular media briefing yesterday, she said: “We will look at the latest data and come to a view on where we are and whether we need to extend the lockdown restrictions to further suppress the