Spinning Covid crisis
IN a car-crash coronavirus briefing Nicola Sturgeon tried hard to dilute the blame for the transfer of patients who tested positive from hospitals to care homes.
It does not take a genius to work out that this was very risky, but still the Scottish Government tries to hide behind the ‘lessons will be learned’ sound bite.
Just how are lessons going to be learned when NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde sent 752 patients to care homes yet cannot afford to check how many had been tested?
The minister responsible, Jeane freeman, was standing right next to Miss Sturgeon yet was only asked to comment briefly once. following hard on the heels of John Swinney, responsibility is a word the SNP uses frequently but never takes.
GEraLD EDWarDS, Glasgow.
tenth of a week’s wages for one player. That kind of fine could possibly be paid out of their petty cash.
We are talking about a very serious virus that has killed thousands and these restrictions are there for very serious reasons.
Footballers who thumb their noses at the regulations need to receive serious penalties and the clubs have a responsibility which they cannot ignore.
Fining them 25 points, for example, would make them sit up and take note of just how serious the situation is and what their responsibility is to society.
The idea of fining clubs points might be the way forward to improve the behaviour of players and officials.
John McnEE, Glasgow.
Football own goal
OVERPAID footballers Mesut Ozil and Gareth Bale are completely entitled to sit out their contracts.
They can’t complain if they are not picked to play and the clubs can’t moan if players will not move to another club on lower wages.
Football clubs may be in a financial mess because of Covid, but they only have themselves to blame for not structuring contracts better.
You would think a player’s self-respect would mean they would want to play regularly. If they signed for another club at £100,000 a week, they would not be poor as they are already multi-millionaires.
Football clubs will never learn, as demonstrated by obscene transfer fees.
The Manchester clubs are looking to spend hundreds of millions while Chelsea wants to break the bank. RAYMond BoliTho,
Margate, Kent.
Don’t put the boot in
AS A retired yachtmaster, I am surprised that Yellow Welly Brigade was used as a term of abuse (Letters). In fact, it is a term of affection given by landlubbers to yachtsmen.
It dates to the time when the only wellington boots with non-slip soles, suitable for use on a wet deck, were yellow.
These sailors visit Salcombe in great numbers in the season and pay their dues to moor up in the harbour. They go ashore to visit local shops and spend good money in the pubs sampling a pint or four of the local brew.
They spend even larger sums dining in the town’s many restaurants before heading back to their yachts for a quiet night afloat. MiChAEl AXTMAnn,
Fleet, hants.
Misery Auntie
THE BBC’S Head of Moaning is doing a terrific job and deserves a bonus.
Every news bulletin features people with the biggest beefs against any government policy announcements.
What a feast with Covid lockdowns, exam results, travel restrictions, quarantine and masks. The reporters must be exhausted hunting out disgruntled viewers.
Thank goodness there is no one out there who will cheer on sensible policies.
Keep up the good work,
BBC, and continue to depress us all.
AnnE MARTYn, Enfield, london.
COnGRATULATIOnS to the BBC for the moving coverage of the VJ Day service at the national Arboretum, featuring dignified old soldiers telling their poignant stories.
But shame on the BBC for removing the free over-75 TV licence from this wartime generation. Another own goal by the Beeb.
R. J. hAYnEs, address supplied. I AM a 78-year-old OAP and all I watch on the BBC is a bit of news and Bargain Hunt.
However, Bargain Hunt has been replaced by a thinly disguised party political broadcast by the SnP masquerading as a Covid-19 update – and for this I’m having to pay for a licence. Come on BBC, now what’s the point?
B BAXTER, stirling.