SNP’s Ian Blackford calls for closure of UK borders to ‘all but essential travel’

The UK’s borders should be closed to “all but essential travel” to prevent new strains of coronavirus spreading, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said.

Mr Blackford made the plea after warning the UK Government must “act in a timely manner” to respond to the pandemic.

He told the Commons: “Nobody would say that this Prime Minister is one step ahead of tomorrow or acts and shows leadership in dealing with this health pandemic.

“On travel, is the Prime Minister prepared to learn from his Government’s past mistakes?

The UK’s borders should be closed to “all but essential travel” to prevent new strains of Covid spreading, the SNP has said.

“Will he consider closing the UK border to all but essential travel to prevent new strains of the virus spreading?”

Boris Johnson replied: “As I said just now, we will make sure that we protect our borders from the readmission of the virus and he has seen what we did already in the case of the South African strain.

“And we’ll bring forward further measures to stop the readmission of the virus.”

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