POLITICAL commentator John Rentoul has apologised to the First Minister after claiming reports England had denied Scotland personal protective equipment (PPE) was untrue.

Yesterday we reported how at least one supplier of PPE said it had been told not to send its stocks to care providers in Wales and Scotland.

After the story was picked up in multiple publications Scotland’s national clinical director Jason Leitch claimed it was “rubbish” – and Chancellor Rishi Sunak followed suit later in the day.

But the suppliers involved reiterated their statements, with Gompels writing on its website: “These restrictions are not something we have decided, they are a criteria given to us by Public Health England.

READ MORE: PPE firm says Public Health England said to prioritise England

“We have been told that there are alternative arrangements in place for Wales and Scotland, but we have not been able to find out what they are.

“The criteria was given to us by Public Health England @PHE_uk. Please don’t think we’re discriminating against our lovely, loyal Welsh/Scottish customers.”

The BBC also said it had evidence other companies had been told not to sell to care homes in Scotland and Wales.

Yesterday Rentoul had tweeted: “Can’t believe St Nicola would have exploited that untrue ‘English nicked our PPE’ story for political advantage.”

I have deleted a tweet from yesterday which said the claim that England denied Scotland PPE was untrue. After the Scottish govt’s clinical director said it was “rubbish”, some evidence emerged that suppliers were saying it — John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) April 15, 2020

Today he back-tracked, accepting there was evidence suppliers had been making the claims.

He wrote: “I have deleted a tweet from yesterday which said the claim that England denied Scotland PPE was untrue. After the Scottish govt’s clinical director said it was ‘rubbish’, some evidence emerged that suppliers were saying it.

“NHS England and PHE have denied instructing suppliers and Sturgeon has accepted those assurances, but I was wrong to accuse her of seeking political advantage, for which I apologise.”

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of The National is at stake. Please consider supporting us through this with a digital subscription from just £2 for 2 months by following this link: www.thenational.scot/subscribe. Thanks – and stay safe.