Time to co-operate instead of playing the blame game

THROUGHOUT the coronavirus pandemic, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been at great pains to insist that she doesn’t believe this is a time to score political points.

Sadly, many of her colleagues and supporters haven’t heard this message.

SNP politicians, desperate to deflect attention from Scottish Government failings, such as the disastrous decision to send untested elderly people into care homes, would rather complain about actions taken by the Prime Minister than address flaws in their own strategy.

At its grubbiest, this passing of the buck has led to claims of outright racism, with some nationalists gathering at the Border to protest against English visitors travelling north. Now one of Ms Sturgeon’s most trusted advisers on coronavirus has fanned the flames of public unease. Professor Devi Sridhar says having an open Border is scuppering Scotland’s chances of eradicating the virus. The academic, chair of global public health at Edinburgh University, has a record for controversial pronouncements. She has repeatedly criticised UK Ministers and last month was forced to apologise after claiming Unionists were ‘anti-Scottish’ and wanted to see the pandemic get worse in Scotland.

Of course, Professor Sridhar is entitled to her opinion, but we would have thought her focus would be on Scotland’s far-from-perfect response to the virus. At this time, co-operation between all four nations of the UK is absolutely crucial.

If Ms Sturgeon is sincere when she says this is not the time for politicking, she should remind those now trying to score points that they are helping nobody.