FM ditches lockdown summit to go on TV
Nicola Sturgeon has come under fire after it emerged she left a four nations discussion over lockdown easing early to speak at the televised daily coronavirus briefing at Holyrood.
The First Minister admitted the discussion – led by Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, and including representatives from the Northern Irish and Welsh governments – was still ongoing as she led the daily briefing, which is broadcast on the BBC.
Opposition parties hit out at the decision, branding the briefing “a TV appearance” and criticising the First Minister for prioritising the briefing over “working constructively with other governments”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday revealed his road map for England’s lockdown easing which Ms Sturgeon said was “not identical” to Scotland’s, but the principles will be the same.
She will update Parliament with the Scottish Govern
ment’s plan today.
Ms Sturgeon said she had left a “four nations discussion that is probably still under way” after it was set up yesterday at short notice – to be able to attend the daily briefing.
She said: “I do this briefing every day. I wasn’t in charge of the timing [of the four nations briefing].”
A UK Government source told The Scotsman: “Perhaps another minister could have taken part on Nicola Sturgeon’s behalf or the chief medical officer could have given the televised daily briefing.”
It is “too early” to know whether the vaccine against coronavirus will have any impact on long Covid, Scotland’s chief medical officer has warned.
Chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith said researchers would analyse whether the vaccine prevented people from suffering longterm lingering symptoms as a result of Covid-19 infection, but said the vaccine programme was in the early stages and it was so far unclear.
Thousands of people in Scotland are believed to be suffering from the effects of long Covid, which means they are experiencing ongoing symptoms weeks or
months after the initial illness has passed. Many people with long Covid did not have severe illness in the first place.
Dr Smith said: “There isn’t sufficient data to suggest any influence on long Covid. It is clearly something that research groups will be looking at over time.”