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Douglas Ross backs Boris Johnson in row over alleged lockdown comments April 27, 2021, 10:33 am
Boris Johnson has strongly denied saying he was prepared to let ‘bodies pile high’ rather than order another coronavirus lockdown (Ian Forsyth/PA)
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has defended the Prime Minister as a row erupted over comments Boris Johnson is alleged to have made.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford insisted the Prime Minister had a “duty to resign” if the remarks attributed to him were true.
But Mr Johnson has strongly denied saying he was prepared to let “bodies pile high” rather than order another coronavirus lockdown.
April 27, 2021, 1:02 pm
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said alleged comments by Prime Minister Boris Johnson are ‘shameful’ (Jane Barlow/PA)
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Nicola Sturgeon has reiterated her calls for a UK-wide public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic following “shameful” remarks allegedly spoken by Boris Johnson.
Scotland’s First Minister argued that bereaved families deserve answers about the response to the pandemic in light of reports the Prime Minister said he would rather see “bodies pile high” than impose a third lockdown.
Alba proposes quadrupling Scottish Child Payment
The Alba Party estimates the policy would cost £380 million per year (Jane Barlow/PA)
The Alba Party has said it wants to see the Scottish Child Payment increased to £40 per week in a bid to eradicate child poverty.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and IPPR Scotland have said quadrupling the benefit would lift 50,000 more children out of poverty, at a cost of £380 million per year, Alba estimates.
Leader Alex Salmond announced the move on Tuesday in Dundee, where he said his party hoped to eradicate child poverty in the next parliamentary term.
Alex Salmond announced the policy on Tuesday (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Holyrood leaders clash in debate ahead of next week’s election
Updated: April 27, 2021, 10:47 pm
Channel 4 broadcast the leaders’ debate across the UK (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Denying another independence referendum if there is a majority of MSPs in favour of it would push more people to support separation, voters have been told.
Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said some Scots would not welcome being told they could not have another vote by Westminster.
The two leaders made their comments during a heated Channel 4 News debate, also attended by Douglas Ross, Anas Sarwar and Willie Rennie, which regularly descended into a shouting match, with leaders repeatedly cutting across each other.