Express.co.uk readers can vote in our poll on whether the SNP leader should leave the decisions to the Prime Minister. It comes as the Government is under mounting pressure to reveal its lockdown exit strategy.

Ms Sturgeon called for an “adult conversation” with the public as she published a document on Thursday about easing the lockdown in Scotland.

The First Minister said: “As we start to lift the restrictions, the real risk is that Covid-19 runs rampant again.

“So a return to normal as we knew it is not on the cards in the near future and it’s really important that I am upfront with you about that.

“What we must do is find a new normal, a way of living alongside this virus but in a form that keeps it under control and stops it taking the toll we know it can do.”

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock has insisted it is “too soon” to scrap social distancing measures.

Asked about Ms Sturgeon’s plans for lifting the lockdown, he told Good Morning Britain: “I know some people are looking in this space but the truth is it is too soon to make changes to the social distancing rules safely.

“People should follow the social distancing rules because that is what is needed to keep this virus under control.

“It now looks like we are at the peak and the curve has flattened but it wouldn’t take much to lose that grip that we have on it, and that is why we are being very cautious in this space.”

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“But I also respect the responsibilities that my devolved colleagues have got.”

The Health Secretary said he would ignore demands to lift the lockdown too quickly.

He said: “I will not allow for changes to be made that are unsafe.

“We have got to keep the public safe. I understand the economic pressures and that is my background and I care deeply about that.

“The point is, the improvement in people’s health from getting the number of new cases down, and getting it right down, is also the best thing for the economy.

“Because the worst thing for the economy would be a second spike and, instead, if you get the number of new cases right down, then you can hold it down through testing, tracking and tracing and that allows you to release more of the measures.

“I understand those voices who are saying we should move sooner but that is not something we are going to do.

“We are going to move when it is safe to do so.”

Speaking during Thursday’s Downing Street press conference, Mr Hancock said the plan set out by Ms Sturgeon was “very similar” to the UK Government’s approach.

He said: “We set out the five tests that are needed for us to make changes to the lockdown measures and the Scottish Government’s proposals are based on those tests.”

But the Health Secretary added: “The UK-wide approach is the best way to go.”

It comes as Wales published its roadmap out of lockdown on Friday.