Nicola Sturgeon ‘modelling herself on Donald Trump’ with border comments, says Jacob Rees-Mogg

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to “build a wall” between Scotland and England, Jacob Rees-Mogg has said.

It follows a comment made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday that “there is no border between Scotland and England” – which was mocked by the SNP – after Ms

Sturgeon failed to rule out “border checks” on English visitors.

Jacob Rees-Mogg pictured on the left and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the right

The Commons Leader said it may not be a “bricks and mortar” structure in the vein of Hadrian’s Wall or US President Donald Trump’s border wall with Mexico, but Ms Sturgeon wants a “metaphorical wall”.

During Business Questions on Thursday, Mr Rees-Mogg criticised Ms Sturgeon’s “shameful” remarks after SNP Commons business spokesman Tommy Sheppard said the

Government is “led by someone who thinks the border does not exist”.

Mr Rees-Mogg replied: “He mentions borders, and I noticed that Nicola Sturgeon wishes to have a wall – perhaps she is modelling herself on other leading political figures – between England and Scotland.

“But, as my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said, there is no border between England and Scotland and it was shameful to call for a border of that type of kind to be erected to stop people travelling freely between constituent parts of the United Kingdom.

“One never thought that Nicola Sturgeon would model herself on American political figures and want to build a wall – at least a metaphorical wall if not actually getting like Hadrian with the bricks and mortar.”

Earlier, shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz urged the Government to extend protections that stop landlords being able to evict tenants during the Covid-19 pandemic, which are due to come to an end next month.

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