Matt Hancock 'more optimistic than ever' about staycations this summer

Matt Hancock has claimed is “more optimistic than ever” about enjoying staycations this summer.

The UK Health Secretary today praised the vaccine roll-out, and claimed it would allow holidaymakers to travel freely between Scotland and England this summer.

Speaking on a visit to the Glasgow lighthouse lab, the senior Tory Minister suggested it was safe for the public to book trips now.

He said: “I’m now more optimistic about having a great British summer than I have been at any time, thanks to the speed and the effectiveness of the vaccine rollout.

“By great British summer I absolutely mean people being able to enjoy travel across the whole of the UK.

"Of course, the travel rules for Scotland are matter out for the Scottish Government, rightly, but I think we can all see that we can make strides down that roadmap, thanks to the speed of the vaccine rollout.

“I think we’ll be able to lift the travel restrictions in England within the roadmap. That roadmap is possible both here in Scotland and in England, because of the vaccine programme.”

The UK government aims to lift even international travel restrictions by June 21.

Speaking during a huddle with Scottish journalists, Mr Hancock also insisted the vaccine roll-out was a success UK wide, and refused to criticise the Holyrood administration.

He said: "The vaccine programme has been a huge success in every part of the UK. We can see that the UK wide vaccination programme is saving live rights now.

"The data we’ve found in the Scottish studies was incredibly strong.

“There was always a debate about how fast the roll-out is in every different part of the UK.

“You won't hear a word of criticism from me, just a big thank you to everyone across Scotland working to make this happen.

“So it's been a massive partnership and I believe very strongly that what the whole United Kingdom wants to see in these very difficult times is everybody working together to save lives and to get us out of this pandemic as soon as we safely can.”

It came as Mr Hancock announced regulators MHRA would take a fast track approach to future vaccines against new variants or coronavirus.

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