Scotland won’t forget this for a long time
Last week was certainly eventful and while Scotland began phase one of the transition to some semblance of normality on
Friday, I think it is fair to say something else dominated the headlines and our newsfeeds over the last seven days.
Dominic Cummings’ actions and the UK Government’s handling of the current situation have been a focal point in both the papers and my house.
My wife Stacey has always been a vocal and politicallydriven person, it’s one of the reasons why we work so well as a couple.
But I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so angry or riled up by anything as much as she was last week in a long time – and understandably so.
But I think Stacey is only representative of many households right now in their complete lack of respect and disgust for not only Dominic Cummings, but the way the prime minister himself is so blatantly willing to defend his special advisor.
Watching the top aide address the UK on Monday was woeful to say the least and despite him being nearly 40 minutes late to the table, his statement was still a rushed and ill-thought-out diatribe.
What became quickly obvious was that there was nothing Mr Cummings could say to make his reasons for breaking lockdown guidance seem genuine.
By the end of the statement, we could be forgiven for laughing at the preposterousness of elements of his address.
I don’t know about you but I would certainly never take my family on an hour-long round trip while experiencing vision problems just to test my eyesight and to work out if it was safe for me to drive in the first place.
This is the sort of nonsense the prime minister thought the public would accept and appreciate.
Yet while Dominic Cummings’ actions were ridiculous and unforgivable, this saga only highlights a bigger issue with the UK Government and the old school establishment’s complete disregard for the everyday man, woman and family.
Boris Johnson and his cronies in Westminster are so used to living above reproach with a ‘one rule for me, and one rule for you’ attitude that they seem to believe they can truly get away with anything.
But during what will perhaps be the biggest public health crisis in our lifetime, I do not think that is acceptable.
For too long the UK Government has been self serving and only out for themselves – at the expense of the people of Scotland and the communities we call home.
Just last week Westminster backtracked on £70 millionworth of funding for business and charities in Scotland despite pledging this money as part of the coronavirus funding.
We’ve already seen the Scottish Government take action to fill gaps in UKwide support schemes, so the last thing we need is an additional financial burden put on businesses in our town because of the Treasury’s shameful decision to shortchange Scotland once again.
While I am urging the
UK Government to honour these pledges, I can’t say I’m surprised at this turn of events as this Johnson government has been characterised by broken promises and botched plans.
I think Paisley deserves a lot better than a government which has proven time and time again that it will only look out for itself and the London elite.
I know the people of Scotland will remember Dominic Cummings flagrant disregard for the rules while everyone else struggles without seeing family, friends and loved ones for a long time.
But I hope we also remember this is just one chapter of a book filled with disappointment and indifference to what is right for the people.
Scotland can do better herself and I for one cannot wait until we strike out on our own and shake off the shackles of the UK Government’s selfserving circus.