SIR Keir Starmer has been panned for claiming that a divergence from the four-nation approach is harming the response to coronavirus.
SNP MP Stewart McDonald condemned the assertion as “risible tosh”.
Boris Johnson’s government has begun to ease lockdown restrictions, dropping the “stay home” message in favour of “stay alert”. The move was rejected by the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which have all maintained stricter rules.
But Starmer claimed the divergence was potentially damaging.
Talking to the BBC's Politics Wales programme, the Labour leader said: “Whilst we have devolution, all four nations need to work together wherever they can. That’s what we did going into lockdown.
“I’m disappointed that we’re not doing it coming out of lockdown, we’ve now got a different message.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon hoping to ease lockdown restrictions next month
Starmer acknowledged that the different arrangements could put a “strain” on the Union, adding: “The sooner, frankly, we get back to operating as four nations together the better. Because having different approaches in different parts of the UK I don’t think is going to help us out of this crisis.”
The Labour leader said that the collapse of the four-nation approach was Boris Johnson’s fault and said it has reinforced his desire for “radical federalism”.
But Starmer went on to claim the crisis has fostered an “incredible sense of solidarity across the UK”.
He added: “I think that bond of solidarity will be very important going forward.”
READ MORE: Keir Starmer told to 'be like Nicola' to win Scottish votes
Stewart hit back at the claims on social media.
He tweeted: “‘Different responses in different parts of the United Kingdom won’t help us’. This is risible tosh.
“The flexibility to respond to the virus in different jurisdictions isn’t a major political issue elsewhere. Only in the UK does it seem to shred so many political nerves.”
‘Different responses in different parts of the United Kingdom won’t help us’. This is risible tosh. The flexibility to respond to the virus in different jurisdictions isn’t a major political issue elsewhere. Only in the UK does it seem to shred so many political nerves. https://t.co/KxAedQFuqp
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) May 18, 2020
Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish Government will soon publish a route map setting out the "phased approach to easing lockdown".
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