Sturgeon criticised for ‘chopping and changing’ on Covid restrictions
Nicola Sturgeon has been criti c i s e d ove r a n i n c o n s i s t e n t approach to Covid-19 restrict i o n s wh i c h m ay b e d o i n g mo r e h a r m t h a n t h e v i r u s itself, according to a former Supreme Court judge.
Lord Sumption even suggested that the S cottish Government's policy is partly driven by taking a different approach to elsewhere in the UK.
The legal chief has also been c r i t i c a l o f B o r i s Jo h n s o n' s approach to restrictions and told a Scottish newspaper that public confidence in the Prime Minister has been “destroyed”.
“Nicola Sturgeon has been a lot better at avoiding that,” he told the paper. But she is beginning to veer into the chopping and changing, pillar-and-postery in the last few weeks.”
Ms Sturgeon has stopp ed short of the national “firebreak” lockdowns which have been adopted in England and Wales - and has adopted a five-tiered system nor th of the b order while England went for three.
The ex-judge added: "The approach, basically, is to tr y to make it clear that this is a domestic Scottish policy, nothing to do with the United Kingdom. And in as many ways as possible different from the United Kingdom.
"I susp ect the only reason we haven't had a second Scot
tish lockdown so far is to create the impression she is not influenced by what happens in London although, manifestly, she must be."
Lord Sumption describes the virus as a “humanitarian catastrophe” but warns t ha t the longer term impact social and economic impact of the widespread restrictions being implemented will prove more damaging in the end.
“I think that's true both in England and Scotland,” he added.
“Politicians by their nature, are naturally more concerned to avoid criticism than necessarily to serve the public interest.
“Essentially, they can't see the difference bet ween the t wo. They therefore are strongly influenced by things that have immediate and visible media impacts - like deaths in hospitals. And they’re much less influenced by things like an entire generation without jobs, which is the risk that we are seri
ously facing.”
Meanwhile Scottish Labour leader called for the ban on amateur football in Scotland to be lifted to avoid a "two-tier" approach to the game.
There are growing concerns about the impact on the mental and physical health of the tens of thousands of amateur players across the country who have been unable to turn out.
Top flight football has been allowed to resume, as well as semi-professional matches involving junior clubs.
Mr Leonard has now written to Ms Sturgeon calling on ministers to lift the ban on the amateur game.
Under existing restrictions 35,000 registered amateur players in Scotland’s Central Belt have been stopped from playing games, while professional and semi-professional football is allowed.
"Consideration should be given to finding a workable solution that allows the amateur football leagues to safely carry out games," Mr Leonard said.
The Labour leader called on Ms Sturgeon to hold urgent talks aimed at lifting the ban with Stuart Urquhart, President of the Scottish Amateur Football Association (SAFA) who has been calling for a relaxation.
Mr Leonard added: "The current restrictions have created a t wo-tiered football system in Scotland, where semi-professional football teams and players are given exemptions to carry on competing in their leagues, whilst amateur teams are not.
"As I understand it semi-pro teams follow exactly the same Covid procedures as teams in the Amateur league and ‘gatherings’ are similar in size.
“Football remains Scotland’s most popular sport, it helps many people, players and fans, to focus their minds and efforts of something that provides a lot of happiness, that is why having a blanket ban does not work,” Leonard added.
A S c o t t i s h G o v e r n m e n t spokesman said the situation will remain under review.
“We recognise the benefits spor t brings to physical and mental health as well as the key role sports clubs play in local communities,” he said.
“This is why, in level three areas, we have provided an exemption for under-18s to continue to play football. We understand restrictions on adult activity will be disappointing, however they are absolutely necessary to suppress the transmission of the virus in high prevalence areas.
“We will continue to review o u r p o s i t i o n a n d p r o v i d e updates when appropriate.”
Scotland yesterday recorded another 1,115 positive cases of coronavirus and three more deaths in the previous 24 hours. The Scottish Government said new cases are down from the 1,596 announced on Saturday, although the total number of test results reported fell by more than 12,400 from the previous day's record-high of 29,644. S cotland’s death toll of peo - p l e w h o f i r s t t e s t e d p o s i - tive for the virus within the p r e v i o u s 2 8 d ay s h a s n o w reached 3,036 following the three new recorded deaths. Some 7.3 per cent of the 17,229 tests for Covid-19 which reported results proved to be positive. N H S S c o t l a n d t e s t s m a d e u p 5 , 8 9 4 o f t h e t o t a l whi l e t h e UK Gove r n me n t ' s t e s t - i n g p r o g r a m m e r e p o r t e d 11,335 - almost half the 22,288 o f t h o s e f r o m S a t u r d a y . The number of infected hospital patients has remained at 1,245 according to the Scott i s h G ove r n me n t ' s f i g u r e s , although those in intensive care units is up by five to 111. Of the new cases, 416 were found in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 245 were in Lanarkshire and 122 were identified in the Lothian health board area.