Nicola Sturgeon: Whoever wins US election needs to lead global Covid fight

Nicola Sturgeon has said all votes in the US election should be counted to protect the “integrity of American democracy” and it was vital the next president leads a “responsible” global fight against coronavirus.

Nicola Sturgeon has said no matter who wins the US election they need to lead on fight against Covid.

Asked about the impact of the US election on global efforts to tackle coronavirus at her daily briefing, Ms Sturgeon said the outcome mattered “to the whole world, even though the whole world doesn't have a say in them”.

“That is true on Covid-19,” she said. “We want to see the world's biggest democracy taking a responsible leadership role.

“It's really important that – whoever emerges as the eventual winner from this – that there is a real focus on making sure that the virus is controlled and suppressed in America, and that on things vaccines and technological developments America is playing a responsible role, which I hope would be the case."

The First Minister also revealed she watched Donald Trump's speech earlier today with a “sense of discomfort and foreboding”.

The Republican candidate made premature claims of victories in several key states before declaring the vote a “fraud" and that he would go to the US Supreme Court over the result.

Several American states allow mailed-in votes to be accepted after election day as long as they were postmarked by Tuesday. Some were prevented from counting postal votes before election day, meaning results could now take several days to be announced.

Ms Sturgeon, who has occasionally criticised comments made by Mr Trump, including his suggestion bleach could be used to treat Covid-19, said people could probably guess "what my preferred outcome of the election would be", but it was a matter for the American people.

Referencing Mr Trump's claim to have won the election with millions of outstanding ballots still to be counted, she said: “I think what is most important right now is the integrity of American democracy.

“All votes should be counted and I think that is an important principle and the outcome of the election should be respected. I won't be the only one who listened to the president's speech earlier this morning with a sense of discomfort and foreboding.

“I hope sensible voices in America come to the fore in terms of the protection of the integrity of democracy."

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