Nicola Sturgeon says ‘over-simplistic’ to claim Brexit has helped UK’s Covid vaccine procurement

Nicola Sturgeon has labelled claims that Brexit helped the UK procure more coronavirus vaccines as "over-simplistic", adding that all countries have an interest in seeing other populations immunised as we face a "global pandemic".

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Scotland's first minister was asked about the benefits of not being part of the European Union's vaccination programme.

Interviewer Susanna Reid suggested that "one of the most powerful arguments for Brexit" must be the UK's successful vaccine drive, compared to the EU's, which is facing problems with its supply.

AstraZeneca has said it will not be able to meet its supply targets to the EU for the first three months of this year due to production difficulties, meaning the company will only be able to supply half of the anticipated 80 million doses in 2021's first quarter.

The UK reached a significant milestone in its rollout on Wednesday, with Matt Hancock, the health secretary, announcing that 10 million people had received the first dose of a coronavirus shot.

The country has the second highest per capita vaccination rate globally, and is in the lead in Europe.

Ms Reid asked the SNP leader about comments made by SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford last July when she said the UK government should be working with EU partners to find a vaccine.

The SNP leader replied: "I think there's a bigger point but I'm not going to sit here and say anything other than I think it's really good that the UK has managed to procure as much vaccine and that the UK as a whole is getting ahead in terms of vaccine.

"We all have an interest in seeing all countries get the populations vaccinated because this is a global pandemic but I think the UK is in a very strong position."

Ms Sturgeon underlined that since vaccine procurement and the approval process began while the UK was still in the EU transition period, the rules of medicines approval would have allowed the UK to make its own decisions around procurement even if it had remained in the bloc.

She said the pro-Brexit viewpoint did not stand up to "detailed scrutiny", adding: "Of course you can make that argument but sometimes I think it's a slightly over-simplistic argument, but we should all be pleased that the vaccination programme is going so well.

"The issues around Brexit are much wider and more fundamental but even on this narrow point I think if you were to apply really detailed scrutiny it wouldn't be quite that simple."

The first minister reiterated her view that regardless of the role of Brexit "it's thoroughly a good thing that the UK has got such good supplies", adding that "obviously all of us want to make sure those supplies keep flowing".

Ms Sturgeon also said that Scotland's vaccination rate had quickened this week and is now being carried out "at a higher rate than England" proportionately, following some recent delays that saw it lag behind England's rates.

As of Wednesday, more than 10 million people in the UK have been given their first dose, while nearly half a million have received a second jab.