CLOSED DOORS EXPOSED
Swinney slams Rangers for lack of leadership after crowds of fans flout Covid rules for street celebrations
We were already married
‘FAKE’ WEDDING
ONE of the biggest revelations – albeit least talked about – was Meghan saying the couple married before their £32million wedding.
Oprah asked Meghan what she was excited about in her new life.
The Duchess replied: “Just being able to live authentically... it’s so basic, but it’s really fulfilling.”
Unprompted, she continued: “I was thinking about it, you know our wedding, three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that. We called the Archbishop, and we just said, ‘Look, this thing, this spectacle is for the world. But we want our union between us’.
“So the vows we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard.”
Harry corrected her with a laugh: “Just the three of us”, to include
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who also led their official ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018.
About the wedding watched by the world, she said: “I’ve thought about this a lot... it was like an out-of-body experience I was very present for.
“That’s the only way I can describe it because, the night before, I slept through the night entirely, which in and of itself is a bit of a miracle. And then woke up and started listening to that song, Going to the Chapel.
“And just tried to make it fun and light and remind ourselves that this was our day – but I think we were both really aware, even in advance of that, this wasn’t our day. This was the day that was planned for the world.”
This was for the world, we wanted our own union MEGHAN ON DECISION TO HAVE PRIVATE CEREMONY
PLAN & WIFE... Couple wed in secret before royal ceremony in May 2018
Rangers should have told fans not to come out
GEORGE SQUARE
RANGERS were condemned for showing a “lack of leadership” by the Scottish Government yesterday after fans gathered in breach of Covid rules to celebrate the team’s first league success in a decade.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney blamed the club for a lack of “sustained messaging” directed at their supporters, who descended on Ibrox and George Square.
He said: “The silence from Rangers was deafening.”
Swinney described fans’ behaviour as “an absolute disgrace” and said the impact of the celebrations could lead to Scotland remaining in lockdown longer if there was a spike in cases.
He also said it could place Scotland hosting UEFA matches this summer in jeopardy.
But last night, Rangers hit back, pointing out that manager Steven Gerrard had asked fans to ensure they adhered to Scottish Government guidelines in messages over the weekend.
In a statement, the club said: “During the last number of weeks, Rangers can confirm we initiated open dialogue with key stakeholders in relation to the possibility of us achieving a historic 55th league title.
“We understand the jubilance of our support across the world who recognise this has been a historic year for the club.
“Nevertheless, it has been of great frustration for all football fans across the world that they have not been able to watch their team within stadiums, especially for the loyal Rangers season-ticket holders who have stood by this football club through thick and thin in the last decade.
“We reiterate the message from our manager, Steven
JOHN SWINNEY
Gerrard, who highlighted that fans should adhere to Government guidelines – stay safe, socially distance and look after each other in this difficult time.”
Swinney said: “The behaviour of some fans has been an absolute disgrace and has undoubtedly cast a shadow over what undoubtedly should have been a special day for the team. “To see so many people deliberately flouting these rules with no regard for the safety of others is shameful. What’s not fair is millions of Scottish citizens have made massive sacrifices for the whole year and have had to give up on really precious moments in their lives with members of their families and, in some cases, the last moments of their lives.
“And then they have to watch that last night and over the weekend, and I think that is absolutely atrocious.”
He said the Government and Police Scotland had both reminded the club to advise fans to adhere to the current restrictions during discussions on February 26 and
ALL secondary school pupils will be offered Covid tests twice a week when schools return full time after Easter.
While all primary school pupils will be back in the classroom on Monday, secondary pupils will have a phased return.
Many of those will only have a few hours in school each week and will continue with online learning until they return in earnest in April.
Yesterday at the Scottish Government’s daily briefing, Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed lateral flow testing would be available to all pupils.
But he cautioned that the tests were only one of several measures designed to keep staff and pupils safe.
He said: “All staff and secondary pupils should wear face coverings in classrooms, communal areas and when moving about the school.”
And he said new guidance highlighted “the importance of two-metre physical distancing during the phased return”.
Swinney said there had been a good uptake of twice weekly coronavirus testing among the S4-6 pupils, who have already been back in school.
He said: “We have focused on offering tests to senior phase pupils because they are more likely to get Covid than younger pupils – but it is worth remembering they are less likely to have the virus than older adults.
“However, we have always said we would keep this under review, The Advisory Sub Group on Education and Children’s issues noted that there could be benefit in making tests available to younger people in S1-3.
“I can confirm when children return from their Easter break, we will provide secondary schools with additional test kits. This will allow schools to offer twice weekly at-home lateral flow testing kits to all secondary school pupils. Staff and pupils who test positive must self isolate.”
Lateral Flow Tests provide extremely quick results, usually within half an hour, which makes them extremely useful for regular testing programmes of this kind.
However, lateral flow tests are less sensitive than laboratory PCR tests so anyone who tests positive will be asked to also have a PCR test to avoid false positives.
Swinney added: “Testing will continue to be voluntary but I would encourage staff and pupils to participate to help reduce risks for the whole school community.”
FREE school meals will be available to all schoolchildren by summer next year, the Scottish Government has announced.
In her Budget, SNP Finance Secretary Kate Forbes added that all eligible kids would get free school meals through the holidays. She said: “We commit to providing free school meals to every primary school pupil by August 2022, with expansion for P4s starting after this year’s summer holidays.” Forbes also revealed that public sector workers would get a pay rise after the SNP Government struck a deal with the Greens and Lib Dems in exchange for their support when her spending proposals for the year ahead are voted on at Holyrood. The Budget offers an £800 pay rise for public sector workers earning up to £25,000, and a two per cent hike for those earning £25,000 to £40,000. It will also provide pandemic support payments of £130 to households receiving Council Tax Reduction and two payments of £100 to families of children qualifying for free school meals. Free bus travel will be extended to 19, 20 and 21-year olds from this summer – at the same time as a scheme to offer free bus travel for those under-19 begins. But the GMB union hit out after its proposal for a £15-an-hour minimum wage for social care workers was set to be rejected for being too costly. That could mean Scottish Labour votes against the Budget after Anas Sarwar said his party’s support was conditional on care workers receiving a “fair deal”.
Labour and the GMB wanted the Budget to include an increase in social care workers’ pay to £12-an-hour with it reaching £15 in the next parliament.
The average wage for care workers in the UK is £9.50 an hour, and a pay rise would benefit up to 200,000 people in Scotland.
Forbes said: “We face unprecedented challenges and I have sought to engage constructively to deliver a budget that meets the needs of the nation.
“The budget addresses key issues raised by every party and I hope all MSPs feel able to support it.
“I can announce we are able to go further in offering a fair and affordable pay settlement to the public sector workers to whom we owe so much through the pandemic, particularly the lowest paid.
“The Budget already contains measures to help struggling families, but in this deal we are also announcing details of a £100 million programme of one-off Pandemic Support Payments.
Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “After the insult of a pay freeze from the UK budget, I’m proud the Greens have secured an uplift for the workers on the front line of efforts to tackle this public health crisis.”
Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said he’d back the budget in exchange for additional support for education, mental health, local authorities, environment, training and businesses.
DAVINA McCall has said the last time she hosted the TV show for Comic Relief alongside David Tennant her daughter was in “tears” after she kissed the actor.
At the end of the 2009 fundraiser, the TV host, 53, said she would donate £50 to charity if she could kiss the Scots actor.
Scot David, 49, said he would have done it for £5 and the show ended with the pair locking lips.
Davina said: “When I got home, I had to explain to my daughter, who was in tears, how I ended up snogging Doctor Who.”
Now there could be a rematch as the two of them will be hosting this year’s telethon with comedian Lenny Henry, singer Alesha Dixon and presenter Paddy McGuinness. ● Comic Relief 2021 airs on Friday, March 19 on BBC1 from 7pm.