The Covid plan that really WAS unhinged

SNP issued 42 contracts to saw bottom off doors

IT was one of the most bizarre proposals to emerge in the pandemic.

To improve ventilation and reduce the spread of coronavirus, the SNP said schools and businesses should chop the bottom off their doors.

Praised as ‘basic common sense’ by Nicola Sturgeon, the scheme was greeted with howls of derision from across the political spectrum, with critics pointing out that it would be easier and less disruptive to simply, well, open the door.

Now, however, it can be revealed that the much-ridiculed policy was put in place dozens of times.

Figures show that the Scottish Government awarded 42 contracts – worth a total of £19,200 – to joiners across Scotland to saw off the bottom of doors.

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesman Willie Rennie said the idea had no grounding in science and posed a fire risk.

He said: ‘The government’s humiliating foray into carpentry has taken an axe to their crumbling credibility. This ridiculous plan had no backing from medical guidance and triggered confusion and concern among the fire service.

‘The Scottish Government should have been supporting businesses to invest in the installation of air filters and appropriate ventilation,’ said Mr Rennie.

‘Instead, this government has tossed effective responses and pragmatic solutions to the wind. The First Minister should announce fresh financial support so that businesses can install air filters, tackle Covid build-up and support our path towards recovery.

‘It would appear that the First Minister is hell-bent on chopping – whether that be chopping up doors or chopping up the UK.’

The idea was suggested by Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville in a letter to Holyrood’s education, children and young people committee on January 28.

After a recent Freedom of Information request was answered, it emerged no school doors had been damaged. Instead, venues such as cafes, nightclubs and churches were given taxpayers’ money to cut panels of wood from doors.

In her letter, Ms Somerville said it would cost £300,000 to remove the bottom third of doors in schools.

Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative spokesman for Covid recovery, said: ‘The SNP’s business ventilation fund has been an embarrassing failure. They have only paid out £1 million out of a total budget of £5 million. Now it turns out that £20,000 of that has gone towards sawing off the bottom of doors.

‘It just seems ridiculous that public money has not been put to a better use.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Measures to improve school ventilation were entirely aligned with public health advice at the time. We have made an additional £5 million available to local authorities to improve ventilation in schools.’