[ad_1]
The Scottish First Minister was invited to the virtual summit alongside her Welsh and Northern Ireland counterparts following her election victory earlier this month.
It will be the first time the two leaders have met since the SNP’s election victory.
Since the Holyrood results, Ms Sturgeon has claimed she has a mandate for a new independence referendum after the election of a majority of MSPs supporting a fresh vote on the issue.
In a phone calls after the election the Scottish First minister said it was a case of “when, not if” a vote would be held
Mr Johnson has repeatedly said “this is not the time” for a referendum, citing the need to focus on the coronavirus recovery.
In a letter sent to Ms Sturgeon inviting her to join the summit, the Prime Minister said he wanted to work with the devolved administrations as one “Team UK”.
He said the pandemic had proven the four nations were at their best when working together and he wanted to meet to “discuss our shared challenges” in building back from coronavirus.
Mr Johnson wrote: “I believe passionately that the interests of people across the UK and in particular the people of Scotland are best served when we work together.
“We have shown that through the vaccine roll-out. The UK Government’s ability to procure vaccines at scale has benefited people in all parts of our country.
“The dedicated and hardworking staff of NHS Scotland have ensured jabs have been put into arms from Gretna to John o’ Groats.
“This is Team UK in action, and I recommit the United Kingdom Government to working with the Scottish Government in this cooperative spirit.”
More to follow…
[ad_2]
