FM accused of ‘holding back hospitality’

Cases of Covid-19 over the festive period were lower than feared because the Scottish Government acted.

On Tuesday, the first minister told MSPs the government believes there are currently 30,000 new infections each day, while a projection last month suggested the figure could be as high as 50,000 by mid-January.

Yesterday, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the projection was “wrong”, and hospitality businesses are still being “held back”.

At First Minster’s Questions, Nicola Sturgeon said: “The projections before Christmas were not wrong. What happened is that we didn’t just fold our arms and accept those projections as inevitable. We took proportionate, sensible, balanced action.”

Responding to the attack by Mr Ross, Ms Sturgeon said: “Is he really saying that he would not have responded to those projections in December?

“Because, if that had been the case, then we would have been in a seriously, seriously difficult position right now.”

Mr Ross went on to say the imposition of restrictions is proof she “doesn’t trust the public” to live with coronavirus.

Mr Ross also quizzed the first minister on when businesses hit by the restrictions will receive support.

Ms Sturgeon told Mr Ross checks have to be undertaken by local councils before funding can be allocated.

She also said she intends senior pupils at secondary schools will sit exams this year, but that the pandemic meant she could not guarantee this would happen.

She was quizzed on the matter after her education secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, reported that the situation was being kept under review, adding that the “very latest” a final decision could be made on the exam diet was the end of March.

For the last two years, the pandemic has meant exams for Highers and other qualifications have been unable to take place, with pupils instead given grades based on teacher assessments.

Ms Sturgeon said that could happen again if the public health advice was that it was not safe for exams to take place, but added she hoped such contingencies would not be required.

Conservative education spokesman Oliver Mundell argued: “Contingencies are needed but not the type her government proposes.”

Lib Dem education spokesman Willie Rennie claimed Ms Somerville had made “a right mess of this”, accusing her of making “conflicting statements”.

He asked: “Does the first minister think this is the right way to treat pupils preparing for exams right now?”

Ms Sturgeon insisted claims of confusion were a “misrepresentation of the position”.

QUESTIONS: Nicola Sturgeon said government action had helped reduce infections.