Baillie criticised for suggesting lockdown is ‘diversion’ from row
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader has been criticised by an Aberdeen MP for an “unbelievably out of touch” tweet suggesting the city’s lockdown was a diversion from controversy over exam results and Covid-19 deaths.
Jackie Baillie quoted a tweet portraying a fictional meeting where the emergency local lockdown was suggested as an attempt to distract journalists from other issues at the First Minister’s coronavirus briefing.
The tweet she quoted said: “So, Sturgeon’s staff meeting this morning. ‘I’m sorry FM but you’re going to get eaten even by this press on the SQA. Not to mention your false figures on deaths.’ Nicola: ‘Any ideas?’ Intern (shyly): ‘How about we close down Aberdeen?’ Nicola: ‘Give this person a full time job!’
Ms Baillie added the comment: “A classic diversionary tactic - wow,” accompanied by the large pair of eyes emoji.
The tweet drew a sharp rebuke from the SNP’S Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman, who accused Ms Baillie of “making rubbish party political jibes”.
The tweet quoted by Ms Baillie joked that the emergency measures were an attempt to deflect attention from the backlash over exam results moderation that disproportionately downgraded pupils from deprived areas.
Responding to Ms Baillie’s tweet, Ms Blackman said on Twitter: “Unbelievably out of touch comment by an unbelievably out of touch party.
“@jackiebmsp my constituents are going through yet another rollercoaster of worry and pain and you are seeking to trivialise it by making rubbish party political jibes. You should be ashamed.”
Asked about her post, Ms Baillie said: “The virus cluster in Aberdeen is a serious cause for concern and the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council have made the correct decision to protect the wellbeing of the community by reimposing certain restrictions. The containment of the virus is of the highest importance and Scottish Labour will continue to support the efforts of the Government to do so, while holding it to account for its failings.”
She also questioned why the Education Secretary has been tasked with leading the response to this outbreak “while his education brief is in utter disarray”.
She added: “There are numerous other ministers capable of leading this response and the choice of Mr Swinney cannot be used to escape scrutiny of the exam results fiasco.he had one job to do and he has spectacularly failed at that, so I wouldn’t put himinchargeofanythingelse.”