Is Boris's trip essential?

Mixed messages yet again. He probably wants to do a photo shoot with her.

I'm sure the bunting will be out to welcome Bozzer as he goes on a walkabout!

I also wonder about the hospital / vaccination centre visits that he and other politicians from all parties are currently doing - are they really necessary at this time when there are many people who would either like to have an appointment for treatment or to visit relatives that aren't allowed to.

He is not breaking the rules he is working ! Sorry but Nichola Sturgeon is the non essential here !

Er, could they not FaceTime like the rest of us?

What’s she scared off? Or does she have enough to contend with the Salmond case? Now that’s a queer kettle of fish - sorry couldn’t resist. Surprised not been a post on GN.

TBH I’d have thought that if anything, a visit from him would be more likely to make anyone vote SNP in the May elections.

My daughter is an NHS nurse in the hospital overlooking the lab site he is due to visit.

She and her colleagues are of the opinion a visit from Boris Johnson is the last thing they need right now. If they had the opportunity they would protest during their tea breaks. But unfortunately they are working to the point of exhaustion and are unlikely to have a tea break.

Nicola Sturgeon has not directly told Boris not to come to Scotland. Whether she approves or disapproves, she hasn’t said. Too intelligent to fall into that trap. A zoom call would be a safer option but being Boris, well, he loves a photo shoot.

It will be interesting to see which other First Minister he decides to visit! Boris will make that decision when it suits him.

I agree jaylucy. In my opinion, an unnecessary visit to disrupt vaccine centres/hospitals is not what I would call an essential part of their job or helpful.

How many police will be needed for his visit? They’ve got more important things to do, as do everyone that has to accommodate him.

Its not essential.

He's not coming to meet Nicola. He's coming get his face associated with the army and the vaccinators. To tell us how lucky we are to have the Union to support us and how without it everything would be much worse.

He's the best advert for independence I can think of .

Nannydaft If he is making a working visit, then he must be making it to another person working in the same field, who he wants to talk to directly. The visit is either essential for both or inessential to both.

Inessential travel into Scotland is now seriously discouraged.
Nicola Sturgeon will no doubt think his trip is not needed - there are telephones, zoom meetings, emails, tweets and in the last resort even letters.

I would say there are two reasons for his visit - to try to assert his superior power as pm of the UK over the First Minister about the devolved issue of Health Matters, or to get in a little break for himself. Maybe he'll bring a tent and a primus stove.

As prime minister of great Britain it is of course his privilege to visit all parts of the country. However he really needs to 'read the room'. It isn't necessary and could have been done online. Therefore it smacks of publicity for political reasons which is ironic given Douglas Ross et al have been accusing Nicola Sturgeon of doing that.

It may well be allowed (as it's work related) yet still, it sends the wrong message, doesn't it?

Meetings can be arranged online. Physical presence is not required!

can someone tell me why they keep touching one another's elbows too? Is that really necessary?

He isn't very good at reading the room. I'd have thought someone in the Cabinet would have had a quiet word with him (or one of his advisors)

NannyDaft

He is not breaking the rules he is working ! Sorry but Nichola Sturgeon is the non essential here !

In what way is ms sturgeon non essential ? Or is that supposed to be a joke ?

Politics etc aside I think the prime minister should be setting an example as far as essential travel is concerned.
Zoom, FaceTime, etc etc etc.

I think it's seen as essential by the current WM government because the last 20 opinion polls have show an increasing support in Scotland for independence. So its a good time for Johnson to turn up at a vaccination centre, just as things are starting to get going, and try to build the narrative that without the Union we'd all be doomed.

Can't do that on Zoom

Boris Johnson is PM of the whole of the UK seems to me he can go where he wants.

If Scotland gains independence from the UK

What currency are you going to use, you have already been told you can't use the £?

How are you going to support yourselves as an independent country, no Barnet Formula to pay for prescriptions etc.

How are you going to pay for your hospitals and health care with no handouts and top ups from Westminster? England's ambulance service had to help you out last week when your ambulance service couldn't cope.

He would be dammed if he didnt or dammed if he does whatever he does wont please Nicola Sturgeon

Scotland is the drug capital of the world perhaps Sturgeon should concentrate on sorting that out.

I agree with both Firecracker and rosie

Perhaps Johnson should concentrate on getting the whole of the UK past the current Covid crisis instead of making an unnecessary journey when the rest of the country is trying to avoid spreading the infection.

He is trying to look decisive and powerful in England by lording it in Scotland. Standard procedure - if you face trouble at home, get people behind you by beefing up threats from elsewhere.