MATT Hancock has claimed Nicola Sturgeon forced the UK Government into a U-turn over face masks in schools during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The disgraced former UK health secretary made the allegations in an excerpt of his new book, serialised in the Mail on Sunday, and claimed the Westminster government introduced the measure for face coverings in schools because Sturgeon announced the policy in Scotland.
Hancock claimed Tory ministers were "blindsided" by the FM's announcement in August 2020 and decided to U-turn in order to avoid "a big spat with the Scots".