Trials and tribulations spread
Liv Mcmahon begins a look back at the dramatic events of a truly astonishing year with Part One of our Review of 2020
January
2020 opens with ominous warnings from Iranian officials to the US and its allies following the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike. Iran swears “severe revenge” on the US as Boris Johnson says we should not lament the General’s death.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harr y and Megan, drop bombshell decision to step back as S enior Royals, with their hopes for financial independence and dividing their time equally bet ween the UK and US sending shockwaves through Buckingham Palace.
Edinburgh is declared the 4th busiest cit y for tourists in the world, with statistics showing 450 tourists for ever y 100 citizens in the S cottish capital. Meanwhile, Glasgow is preparing to host COP26 later in the year where world leaders will devise unilateral policies to tackle the global climate emergency.
Stormont is resurrected after three years of deadlock, with Sinn Fein accepting the government’s
proposal for a return to a power sharing executive following its collapse in 2017.
Tensions rise bet ween Downing Street and the S cottish Government as the First Minister’s plans for a ‘S cottish visa’ to boost migration and circumvent Brexit’s end to freedom of movement are dismissed as the Home Office reinforces immigration as to be a reser ved matter.
The month ends with MSPS backing a second S cottish Independence referendum as the European Parliament ratifies B oris Johnson’s Brexit deal, with members holding hands
in an emotional farewell to Britain.
Five people in S cotland are tested for coronavirus as the respirator y virus takes hold in Wuhan, China.
FEBRUARY
The four chief medical officers raise the threat level posed by coronavirus in the UK from ‘low’ to ‘moderate’ as evacuation flights begin to retrieve UK citizens from China. Fears around NHS supply and preparedness begin to build as first UK national dies abroad in Japan.
After ‘Islamist inspired’ attack takes place in London one day after attacker’s release from prison, B oris Johnson establishes an end to early release for those convicted and imprisoned on terrorrelated charges.
S cottish Finance Minister Derek Mackay resigns after it is revealed that he has sent hundreds of texts to sixteen-year- old boy in ‘predator y’ behaviour, leaving the SNP reeling just hours before the S cottish Budget is due to be announced.
Jackson Carlaw is elected leader of the S cottish Conser vatives, beating Michelle Ballant yne by a substantial amount of votes as former leader Ruth Davidson eyes up peerage in the House of Lords.
Caroline Flack dies by suicide age 40 following intense press attention and social media harassment, with her sudden death leading to widespread calls for a kinder societ y.
Reshuffle sees First Minister Nicola Sturgeon make a break with a male - dominated political past, as new cabinet sees women outnumber men for the first time. Kate Forbes MSP becomes the first female Finance S ecretar y in British histor y.
Har vey Weinstein is found guilt y on charges of sexual assault and rape, sentenced to 23 years in prison after the rise of #Metoo.
The conviction marks a ‘new era of justice’ for victims of sexual abuse and assault, say equalit y campaigners.
MARCH
First Scottish case of coronavirus is confirmed in Tayside as testing ramps up to contain the spread, with Scotland adopting a localised approach to identify and isolate potential cases. Health Minister Matt Hancock refuses to rule out an imposition of lockdown measures similar to those seen in China and around the world.
Retailers contend with panic buying as concerns over supply chain sweep the nation and the UK sees its first death from coronavirus. R ationing returns to supermarket shelves as shoppers stock up on toilet roll and pasta with the potential for a national lockdown looming.
Landmark trial against former First Minister Alex Salmond begins in Edinburgh High Cour t, with allegations of sexual harassment and assault facing the former SNP leader.
Billion pound budget
from Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledges to give the NHS whatever it needs to ‘battle’ coronavirus. This will include furlough and job retention schemes to prevent widespread unemployment across the UK, with the government covering 80 per cent of all wages.
After the number of cases climb in all four nations, B oris Johnson announces nationwide lockdown measures in a historic moment for the UK, as Alex Salmond is acquitted of all charges following his trial at Edinburgh High Cour t.
Coronavirus spreads to the ver y centre of government as B oris Johnson and Matt Hancock both test positive for covid-19. Pressures on NHS ser vices and staff in S cotland mount as screenings for breast, bowel and cer vical cancer are put on pause, alongside cancellations to all nonurgent operations, to free up capacit y.
Privacy and justice concerns abound over new emergency covid laws and restrictions, as courts move online and on the spot fines are issued to those caught breaking lockdown rules.
S cotland settles into the ‘new normal’, with thousands of newly unemployed workers registering for Universal Credit, placed on furlough or working from home as the virus claims one life ever y three minutes.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival cancellation looms large for the empt y capital as covid cases continue to rise at pace, with local businesses left fearing for the knock- on effect.
Chief Medical Officer for S cotland, Dr Catherine Calder wood, is found to have broken lockdown rules and is given a police warning, with calls from S cottish opposition par ties for her resignation - coming to a head when discover y of a second breach forces Nicola Sturgeon to take action.
“We will overcome it” says the Queen in a landmark televised address to a countr y in emotional and eco - nomic turmoil. The countr y looks on in shock as Prime Minister B oris Johnson is hospitalised and moved into intensive care after testing positive for covid-19 in late March. He thanks the NHS for saving his life upon recover y.
Sir Stirling Moss, the Formula One racing legend, dies age 90, with the death of soul extraordaire Bill Withers not far behind him.
As covid cases tip over t wo million globally, it is revealed that a quar ter of Britain’s covid-related deaths are occurring in care homes. Academics and public health officials warn of a crisis ensuing in ‘superspreading’ care home environments.