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Councillors hit back at MSPS
Councillors have hit out at North Lanarkshire MSPS who criticised the ban on adults at local nurseries’ graduation events, after the deputy first minister confirmed that families cannot attend under Scottish Government-issued coronavirus rules.
Local authority leader Jim Logue demanded that Fulton Macgregor and Neil Gray explain the guidance in light of the 3000-capacity fan zone running in Glasgow throughout the European football championships, saying: “Parents are rightly angry at the staggering contradiction.”
Meghan Gallacher, the Conservative councillor and Central Scotland MSP, accused the SNP duo of “misleading parents” by questioning the local authority’s implementation of national government guidance.
Coatbridge representative Mr Macgregor and Airdrie & Shotts colleague Mr Gray both admitted they are “disappointed” after Covid recovery secretary John Swinney confirmed at Holyrood that families cannot attend – despite both local members having suggested that outdoor and sociallydistanced events could have taken place under level two guidelines.
The former’s Scottish Parliament question to SNP colleague Mr Swinney brought the response: “Events which involve parents attending the nursery or its grounds would generally currently not be permitted.”
Councillor Logue described “unequivocal advice from the government that [graduation events] should not go ahead” and said of the “numerous” disappointed relatives who have contacted him: “Their anger has been significantly intensified by the decision to allow fan zones to take place.
“They rightly assert that 3000 adults coming together constitutes a greater risk than parents of a class of 30 celebrating graduation events whilst maintaining social distance regulations.”
He added: “They also ask why local MSPS who challenged the council about not allowing parental access to graduation events have remained silent on asking similar questions of their government who are allowing fan zones.
“I would now ask Fulton Macgregor and Neil Gray to explain their individual positions in relation to the Scottish Government allowing these to take place.”
Ms Gallacher, who is her party’s spokesperson on children and young people, said the local constituency members “have a brass neck blaming councils for a decision ultimately taken by their colleagues in the SNP government”.
The MSP highlighted the contrast between the ban on graduation attendance and permitted gatherings at the Euro 2020 fan zone, and noted that level two guidance for the events sector allows up to 250 people at an outdoor standing event.
She said of nurseries: “If this was a decision by North Lanarkshire Council, I could understand the anger expressed by Fulton Macgregor and Neil Gray – however, it is their own government which stands in the way of parents being able to celebrate such an important occasion with their children.
“The government should adhere to their own guidance which allows 250 to attend outdoor events; this would allow nursery graduations to take place outside in a Covid-safe environment, and they could even be staggered over a number of days.
“It appears that the SNP have either not thought of this or have prioritised the 6000 fans attending the Euro fanzone in Glasgow.”
She added: “I will be continuing to lobby ministers to rethink this guidance; perhaps the local SNP MSPS should do the same rather than spending time writing unwarranted criticism of the council.”
Mr Macgregor said: “I’m disappointed that there is to be no change to the guidance on nursery graduations. Clearly these milestone events could have been safely done outdoors, with reduced numbers and with skilled early-years staff – and it would help to keep people feeling in partnership with the Covid legislation as we seek to extend it.
“I don’t think that ultimately the issue is the graduations per se; it’s the anomalies and the perception that kids are missing out to allow for adult fan zones and the like.
“The government, and thereafter the council, are only acting on the advice being given to them.”
Responding to his Holyrood question, Mr Swinney said: “The government takes advice from the advisory sub-group on education and children’s issues.
“The Covid-19 safety guidance that emerged seeks to minimise the number of contacts that children and staff in early learning settings have, by limiting adult visitors to those who are strictly necessary; that advice is available to local authorities.”
Mr Gray said he had “sought clarity from both the council and Scottish Government” on behalf of “a large number of parents and education providers”, and said: “I am disappointed for them that there is no change to the guidance, but I appreciate both the council and government considering the points raised.
“However, I understand that the advice to government means it cannot happen just now. It is important that as restrictions ease and we try to ensure the vaccine rollout stays ahead of the virus that we stick to the guidance and stay safe.”