Sleepy Joe cannot be in charge of vaccine.. it’s far too important
Opposition parties demand dedicated minister
SCOTLAND’S public health minister is coming under fire from opposition MSPs who say he has been “asleep” during the pandemic crisis and should not be allowed to oversee the Covid vaccine programme.
Joe FitzPatrick has been criticised by Labour, Lib Dems and Tories, who all want a dedicated vaccines minister appointed by Nicola Sturgeon to lead the national effort.
They raised concerns about a lack of depth behind Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who is already under intense pressure for policy decisions in the pandemic while running an under-strain NHS.
Scottish Labour’s Ian Murray said: “I don’t think the vast majority of the public would know we even have a public health minister given his invisibility during this crisis.
“The Scottish Government botched the rollout of PPE and testing and botched this year’s flu jab, so we can’t have a repeat when it comes to the vaccination programme.
“There should be a dedicated vaccines minister who commands public confidence, so that rules Joe FitzPatrick out.”
The calls follow a shambolic performance by FitzPatrick at Holyrood last week, which was then shared on social media.
The excruciating clip began with a reprimand from Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh. He said significant announcements on the vaccine being ready for use in Scotland should have been made to Parliament, not disclosed first at a televised Government briefing.
FitzPatrick, fumbling with his notes, was then told off for not answering a direct question.
The reaction included disbelief at the performance, with some people admitting they did not know there was a public health minister. FitzPatrick is also responsible for sport, leading him into tough talks with football bosses who are desperate to open up stadiums to fans again.
Conservative health spokesman Donald Cameron said: “Even if the SNP’s Calamity Jeane and Sleepy Joe were competent and inspired confidence, the Covid vaccine rollout needs undivided attention.
“This is too big a job to sit alongside these ministers’ day jobs.”
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “Managing the rollout of the Covid vaccine is the most important job in government right now. It needs someone with excellent leadership and good communication skills.
“The public need to have confidence that this is being organised effectively or we may end up in the chaotic position that we saw in Fife, the Borders and other parts of Scotland with the flu vaccine. It’s also a full-time role so it needs a dedicated minister.”
Last week, the First Minister defended the handling of policies and said “the buck stops with me”.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard had asked her if FitzPatrick was the man for the job.
Freeman, delivering an update on the vaccine on Thursday, said FitzPatrick will be taking on work to help oversee the huge programme of recruiting vaccinators.
She told MSPs: “As we progress in what will be a fast- paced exercise, we will, as the First Minister said, make every effort to keep members updated on both the national picture and their local arrangements, making initial information available from next week.
“My colleague Joe FitzPatrick as public health minister will oversee that and take on the additional work of responding to any local issues that members raise.”