CORONAVIRUS

England-Scotland border checks on cards as talks falter

The latest attempts to break the impasse between the UK and Scottish governments ended without agreement
The latest attempts to break the impasse between the UK and Scottish governments ended without agreement
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Border checks at Berwick and Gretna have moved a step closer after negotiations to convince UK ministers to enforce Scotland’s tough quarantine broke down.

Jeane Freeman, the Scottish health secretary, said UK ministers’ refusal to put all UK arrivals into quarantine hotels or help her track Scottish arrivals was “deeply disappointing”.

Freeman confirmed the latest round of talks to break the impasse ended without agreement last night so she is pressing ahead with plans for Scottish border checks.

Everyone flying directly into Scotland must pay at least £1,750 for a ten-night stay in a quarantine hotel. In England, quarantine hotels are reserved for arrivals from “red zone” countries with lots of coronavirus cases.

Matt Hancock, the UK health secretary, said everyone arriving into English airports