1/ It is brilliant that Valneva are starting production, I’m pleased that the PM wanted thank the brilliant staff, but;

- There was no need for him to visit in person when his own UK Gov guidelines & Scottish Gov guidelines are v clear - you should only travel if it’s essential. https://twitter.com/borisjohnson/status/1354717071117066245

2/ This trip is not essential. The PM could easily have waited until later when it’s deemed safe to travel. We can’t have one rule for him and another for everyone else.

I’m not travelling from Livingston to Westminster because I can work from home. He should do the same.

3/ Further, I’m glad he saw sense when last year the UK Gov planned to put all its eggs in the Oxford Astra Zeneca basket... That was a concern as the Vaccine task force expressly recommended ‘diversification’ - so I worked with the Valneva team to lobby for them to get funding

4/ We were successful and I have openly and happily welcomed that. I have however been disappointed that the PM has made some ill advised comments that ‘Scotland would have not had a vaccine if it were up to @theSNP’ - I suggest my letter is evidence of the opposite.

5/ Equally, let’s not forget it’s Scottish taxpayers money that also goes into the funding of vaccines- wherever they are in the UK. If Scotland were Independent and had full powers over it’s economy, of course we would be investing in vaccines and working with other nations.