Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has said that he would like the Scottish Government to rethink its decision to allow pubs to re-open while refusing congregations permission to come together for religious worship.

Mr Cameron said: “I entirely appreciate that relaxing the lockdown is a sensitive process and may cause some anomalies, and we must ensure a gradual and safe return to normality.

“But I really can’t understand how government ministers can consider it safe for people to get together in a pub, but not allow religious worshippers to attend a service, so long as the rules of social distancing are complied with.

“At a difficult times like this, we should surely be doing all we can to allow people to congregate safely at their church or place of worship. I urge ministers to reconsider.”