Scotland's selfishness

The Scottish Government needs to act in a more accountable and responsible way
When deciding on for instance what businesses can begin to consider reopening they have got to be more aware of the costs of keeping the different categories of operations closed. The costs to meet employee furloughs are being met by the UK purse . This is liable to lead us to a situation where Scotland keeps businesses closed whilst in England different decisions are now actually being taken as they are more aware of the costs
Are we in danger of accepting a free ride?

Why the contribution is important

So that our Government decisions are taken with a level playing field

by Ronniebonnie1953 on May 10, 2020 at 10:19AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.2
Based on: 14 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Emax2020 May 10, 2020 at 10:55

    As we are still part of the UK our ride is not free. We pay for it and are entitled to it.

  • Posted by petermuir79 May 10, 2020 at 11:10

    Agree, it's all fine and well saying we will do our own thing and what's right for Scotland....but is it really if it causes mass unemployment which more people will die of in the long term.

    We cannot remain in lock down forever, no vaccine is coming.

  • Posted by SteveR57 May 10, 2020 at 11:12

    I firmly believe that Scotland will not be far behind England and Wales, maybe a week. I think the messaging by the FM has been clearer than the PM. The Tories have diluted and weakened over the last week. Everyone realises that we have to get back to work or the cure will be worse than the disease

  • Posted by Mitchy May 10, 2020 at 11:31

    I agree with SteveR57
    The UK government have been sending out mixed /unclear messages and get a sense they are out of their depth. I believe a lot of the UK PMs decisions tonight will come from devolved ideas which were made clear and open. The steps theFM has planned are realistic and we have had time to reflect on them.
    I think the idea of the UK PM holding on to his announcement ( although clearly leaked to the press) is going to cause widespread confusion when/if implemented from tomorrow as people have not had the chance to reflect and expand on what the next steps actually mean. The Uk government stance is in essence the people will follow us regardless of mistakes as we bumble out of lockdown, whereas the Scottish Government has been to lead by the voice of the people with overarching final decisions. The fact we are being asked for our Opinions speaks volumes about which easing of lockdown to follow.
    Yes of course we need to me out of lockdown to rebuild the economy but we need to do it in an informed and balanced way to regrow the economy while protecting as meany lives as we can.

  • Posted by Elkie May 10, 2020 at 11:53

    And that is, where it gets complicated: Boris Johnson is the PM of the UK, but any measures and policies he may announce today will only apply to England.
    England apparently has been forgotten when it came to devolution. They have no First Minister and not capital...

  • Posted by bstrata May 10, 2020 at 11:53

    If anything our First Minister has been more accountable and responsible than the UK Government.

    Our decision is to remain locked down for a further 3 weeks, not forever. If this puts us on a stronger footing when we emerge from lockdown then it is absolutely the right decision.

    Remember - when we do relax restrictions, the more effectively the virus is suppressed, the easier it will be to manage

  • Posted by Shabbyhouse May 10, 2020 at 11:55

    Precisely. Good for Steve57, who might apply for the post of FM: "The cure will be worse than the disease". You heard it first here.

  • Posted by BrianF May 10, 2020 at 14:07

    Is the science too strict. We are all adults but not treated so we in Scotland are reporting all deaths etc where Care Homes are concerned the UK need to seperate the new people coming from Hospital to Care Homes transmitting the virus. Why shut down the temporary hospitals when they can be used at the moment for new patients that would otherwise go into a Care Home little work needed to change these facilities to suit the situation

  • Posted by miaod1111 May 10, 2020 at 14:26

    I think the stay at home message is right for now but I agree decisions may be seen as being influenced by whose budget funds are coming out of. I have no doubt that there will be a reckoning in the future and if Tories/English media work out a higher percentage of Scottish employees used more furlough funds and for longer (eg due to blanket construction ban rather than allow social distant construction to operate) they will cut Scottish funding somehow. We do need to be aware of the costs even if not directly coming from our budget just now because we will all be paying off this debt for years to come. If social distance to be here until vaccine we need to look at every different industry and how small steps can be made for some of these starting to operate with safeguards in place.
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