The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Fury: Author travels from New Zealand to Skye
The author Neil Gaiman faced a furious backlash yesterday after he revealed he had travelled more than 11,000 miles from New Zealand to his home in Skye – but denied breaching lockdown rules.
The Stardust and American Gods writer told fans in a blog that he was in “rural lockdown on my own” having flown to London via Los Angeles and then made the journey north by car.
In his blog, Mr Gaiman said he and his wife Amanda decided “to give each other some space” and he had flown “masked and gloved” from Auckland to Los Angeles then on to London.
“Both flights were surreal. Empty airports, mostly empty planes.”
He then took a friend’s car and drove “on empty roads” to Skye.
Mr Gaiman said he “needed to be somewhere I could continue to isolate easily”. He said he drove directly to his house and immediately went into quarantine.
Skye MP Ian Blackford said: “Can I just remind anyone else thinking of coming to the Highlands this is against the regulations? To come from the other end of the planet is gobsmacking. For now stay away.”
Skye councillor John Gordon, whose father was one of the residents to die from Covid-19 at the Home Farm Care Home in Skye, added: “Despite a lockdown it is frustrating that people can still access planes and public transport with the possibility of the virus spreading, hence the message stay at home. Borders should have been closed.”
Mr Gaiman replied: “I’m currently a UK taxpayer and on the Scottish voting rolls. I went home.”
He added: “You are allowed to go home. I did and then isolated for two weeks. That’s not breaking the rule of lockdown.”