Despite the political spats, all parts of the UK are relaxing lockdown
The term “the narcissism of small differences” was coined by Sigmund Freud more than a century ago, to describe the concept that communities with a great deal in common are particularly prone to disagreement over minor matters of differentiation. According to the author Christopher Hitchins, “the deepest hatreds are manifested between people who – to most outward appearances – exhibit very few significant distinctions”.
It would be hard to conclude that this is an inappropriate term which would describe the events of the last few days, in relation to the distinct approaches being taken by the Scottish and UK Governments to relaxing the lockdown measures in place as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.
When, at the weekend, the UK Government signalled an intention to move away from the previous messaging of “Stay at home – protect the NHS – save lives” towards the more nuanced “Stay alert – control the virus – save lives”, Nationalist politicians here seemed to have been infected by an outbreak of mass hysteria. In a tweet indicating a certain lack of self-awareness, the SNP’S Westminster leader Ian Blackford tweeted: “What kind of buffoon thinks of this kind of nonsense?”
Fuelled by over-written newspaper headlines, there was an expectation in some quarters that the Prime Minister was about to announce a total abandonment of all lockdown measures, with the consequent risk of a second spike in Covid-19 cases.
When Boris Johnson made his address to the nation on Sunday evening, and then reported to the House of Commons on Monday, it became clear that what was being proposed fell far short of what the more lurid headlines were suggesting.
What was actually being altered for people and businesses in England was that individuals unable to work from home could travel to their places of employment provided they could do so safely, and that greater freedom would be given to people to travel, and to exercise and play sports in the open air.
By this point, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had already announced her own relaxation of the rules in Scotland. Whereas previously we would only be allowed to leave our homes once a day to take exercise for up to 30 minutes, we are now permitted much more flexibility in the time we are allowed to be outside, and on the number of occasions we can do so in the course of a 24-hour period. This did not stop the First Minister tweeting on Sunday, in Trump-style capital letters “STAY HOME. PROTECT THE NHS. SAVE LIVES”.
Overhyped SNP complaints about confused messaging from the UK Government were left looking rather foolish when the First Minister herself was trying to simultaneously promote a “Stay at Home” message whilst permitting people to leave their houses as often, and for so long, as they wanted. That same afternoon, one Scottish tabloid newspaper ran an online headline stating: “Nicola Sturgeon lifts lockdown restrictions in Scotland from tomorrow”. The headline was quickly removed, but the episode demonstrates the risks that all politicians face when their messages are interpreted by the media, not always to give the most accurate impression.
What all these spats do is simply distract from what is actually going on in relation to the easing of lockdown, which is that the four nations of the United Kingdom are taking remarkably similar approaches to the situation, just as they did when lockdown was instituted some weeks ago. We have seen some relaxation of the restrictions in Scotland and Wales, and England has as of today gone further. But it must be only a matter of time before we see Scotland introducing some of the measures that the Prime Minister has announced will apply south of the Border.
For example, the construction industry in Scotland is now desperate to restart work, and Scottish Ministers have indicated that they are very sympathetic to looking at their demands. And with outside exercise in Scotland now permitted on a regular basis, golfers and fishermen here will be wondering why their activities are still off-limits. What difference is there between walking across a golf course, either singly or in a family group, and doing so with a set of golf clubs and a ball and playing a round at the same time?
These tensions will be felt particularly in the south of Scotland, with people living in Dumfriesshire and the Borders wondering why just a few miles away, across a line in a map, individuals have a freedom to behave that is currently being deprived them in Scotland.
We do not yet know the justification for the Scottish Government’s approach to relaxing lockdown. There is a degree of opacity about the R number in Scotland, and why the Government believes that it is higher here than the rest of the UK. Public support for lockdown restrictions is still high, but if that is to be retained whilst we see relaxation in England, then people have to be shown the evidence why greater restrictions here are necessary.
There is danger that all political heat distracts attention away from much more serious issues in the Scottish Government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis. We have a dreadful situation in care homes across the country, with infection rates of up to 73 per cent. There continue to be problems with access to
PPE in the care sector. And the availability of testing, that vital component in a test, trace and isolate strategy, is substantially behind what is available south of the Border.
Political spats may make good headlines, but they don’t always help provide clarity on what are vital issues. As all parts of the UK continue to grapple with this most serious public health crisis, we should be concentrating on how we can work together, not accentuating the differences between us.
Murdo Fraser is a Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife