SNP faces pressure over ‘Freedom Day’
SCOTTISH Tory leader Douglas Ross last night piled more pressure on Nicola Sturgeon to be straight with the country about the route out of lockdown.
The First Minister was due to announce this Tuesday that the nation would move to Level Zero on July 19, but hinted on Thursday that some of the more draconian measures might have to remain.
Now the Scottish Conservatives are demanding that Scotland is not left in confusion on the same day that England is expected to drop all restrictions.
Mr Ross went on the attack against the prospect of what he has dubbed Level 0.5.
He said: ‘Enough is enough. Nicola Sturgeon’s statement on Tuesday, as the Scottish parliament is recalled, must deliver full clarity on the road ahead.
‘She can ill afford to deliver another update that leaves people in limbo again. Businesses and people who have been making enormous sacrifices for well over a year must know exactly what is happening as Scotland moves to Level Zero, and what legal restrictions might still be in place beyond August 9.
‘Critical questions must be answered by the First Minister on a whole range of issues during her statement on Tuesday, and Scottish Conservative MSPs will be using this parliamentary time to hold her firmly to account.’
He added: ‘Mixed messaging must end on Tuesday.’
Mr Ross gave notice of the questions that the Conservatives say the First Minister will be required to answer on Tuesday. They will demand to know when our ‘Freedom Day’ will be if moved from August 9, and the evidence relied upon for any change of date.
Miss Sturgeon will be pressed on whether long-suffering business owners will receive compensation for any further delays, and if hard-pressed hospitals will receive additional support.
On public health, Mr Ross wants to know how the Scottish Government intends to speed up its vaccination programme and Test and Protect contact tracing system.
He also wants to know if there is going to be reform of the selfisolation rules which are currently keeping thousands of schoolchildren and NHS staff away from their work.
England is counting down to ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid has pledged that the vast majority of rules around social distancing and face masks will be swept away.
The hospitality and arts sectors have been promised a return to normality, along with wedding and funeral arrangements. Wales and Northern Ireland are staggering the lifting of restrictions, with updates due on July 15 and 22 respectively.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We have repeatedly been clear that easing restrictions is dependent on the situation with the virus, rather than committing to lifting curbs come what may.
‘As the First Minister has set out, we will have to manage living with Covid-19 for some time to come, even beyond Level Zero.
‘We will continue to use evidence to ensure all our decisions are necessary and proportionate.’
‘People must know what is happening’