First Minister says she learned of PM's new pandemic slogan through 'the Sunday papers'

Nicola Sturgeon has stressed that in Scotland the ‘stay home’ message remains in place.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed her first knowledge of Boris Johnson’s new pandemic slogan came through reading the Sunday newspapers.

In a tweet this morning, she said it was ‘up to him to decide what’s most appropriate for England’ but insisted her clear message to Scotland was to ‘stay home’.

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Nicola Sturgeon has announced at a press conference that she has asked the Prime Minister not to roll out the ‘Stay Alert’ in Scotland in order to not confuse the public.

The Prime Minister is expected to announce a new pandemic strategy later today in his address to the nation.

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Prime Minister to unveil pandemic 'warning system'

It is expected to include a ‘warning system’, under the slogan ‘stay alert, control the virus, save lives’.

Alerts will range from green in level one to red in level five, it is understood.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Jane Barlow-WPA Pool/Getty Images.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Jane Barlow-WPA Pool/Getty Images.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Jane Barlow-WPA Pool/Getty Images.

The move has met mixed response this morning.

Top-selling Harry Potter author JK Rowling immediately hit out by saying: "Is Coronavirus sneaking around in a fake moustache and glasses? If we drop our guard, will it slip us a Micky Finn? What the hell is 'stay alert' supposed to mean?"

Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, tweeted that it "feels to me like a mistake to me to drop the clear" stay at home message.

Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said: "The messaging from this Government throughout this crisis has been a total joke, but their new slogan takes it to a new level."

He wondered: "Stay alert? It's a deadly virus not a zebra crossing."

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