Government is playing ‘blame game’ says expert

Boris Johnson’s government is engaged in a “blame game” with the public when it comes to dealing with coronavirus, a public health expert has said.

The “punitive message” coming from Westminster around new fines for rulebreakers is the latest element and is “problematic” in terms of messaging, Professor Linda Bauld said.

It comes after the public was blamed for “wanting too many tests”, a focus on the behaviour of young people, and an encouragement to eat out and return to the office to support the economy, she said.

Prof Bauld told the PA news agency: “The blame game is a) ‘too many people requesting testing’, b) ‘young people are irresponsible and look at all the cases in that age group’, and c) ‘everybody needs to follow the rules, if you don’t we’re going to fine you and now we’re increasing the fines’.”

In England, businesses that fail to comply with regulations could face closure or £10,000 fines, while individuals risk £200 penalties if they fail to wear masks in certain places or breach the “rule of six”.

Prof Bauld, from Edinburgh University, compared the prime minister’s address to the nation on Tuesday evening to that of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The professor said: “There are differences between the devolved nations and the punitive message is only being sent by Westminster.”

She said Ms Sturgeon’s message is “much more social solidarity”.

Mr Johnson, in a televised address, said: “We have to acknowledge this is a great and freedom-loving country, and while the vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches – too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected.”

Prof Bauld said there had been mixed messaging in recent months which “erodes trust” with the public. She said while there have “clearly” been breaches of the rules, the “general message from the data is most people want to comply with the guidance and they tend to comply with the guidance”.

The latest figures from University College London’s Covid-19 Social Study of more than 70,000 participants, which has been running since the week before lockdown came in on March 23, suggested compliance is fairly high.