Stop being divisive

Stop expending energy trying time probe Scotland is different.

Why the contribution is important

The UK has a wide spread of areas from intensely populated to quite remote. Scotland is no different. Stop trying to portray Scotland as unique. We are one big island (well NI excluded), England, Scotland and Wales and action should be consistent throughout the UK which still allows local differences where there are hotspots.

Don’t expend energy explaining the differences - focus on the common good and maximise the benefits of consistency and moving together.

by Brian on May 06, 2020 at 01:41AM

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Average rating: 2.4
Based on: 84 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Chrismollitt May 06, 2020 at 01:59

    Sorry to disagree but Scotland land mass and population warrants a different approach approximate 6 million people in Scotland spread out over 31000 miles squared London is 8.5 million people crammed into just 607 square miles the difference is clear geographical area have to be taken into account and population mass of area the approach for one area is not the same a another same as approach for some care homes will be different from other so yes first minster your doing the right approach .

  • Posted by BrendaF May 06, 2020 at 02:04

    I do not see our Scottish Government as being divisive. The complete opposite, actually. I trust Scot Gov to do what is best for Scotland. I trust our First Minister and her government to be truthful, to follow the science and also to share their various processes of decision making.

    I do not trust the UK government to be truthful - as has been proven, e.g., Matt Hancock and his PPE figures. The UK gov has a proven track record in spinning the "truth".

    My peace of mind lies with the FM. I feel safe in the knowledge that she has our best interests at heart. Scotland IS unique. We have our own excellent government who will see us through this pandemic as safely as possible.

  • Posted by Harrysmammy May 06, 2020 at 02:33

    Agree! The Nationalist agenda is creeping into every press conference. Try and show a united front against the virus please

  • Posted by is May 06, 2020 at 03:06

    why follow 100% if its to the detrement of scotland . follow the same framework yes but if there needs to be different actions across the uk then so be it if it means beating covid , the only real difference so far is on face coverings and thats been a subject that should have been endorsed by westminster by now anyway

  • Posted by flocor01 May 06, 2020 at 06:29

    I would agree with this in part - it would make it very hard to keep to lockdown for longer if, for example, England allowed construction to go back to work but in Scotland this was still banned. A feeling of real discontent could emerge

  • Posted by Trishc May 06, 2020 at 06:38

    Westminster fails.
    The pandemic response from Westminster has been beyond chaotic, irrational and irresponsible. During the daily briefings it's coterie of speakers have been almost entirely unable to answer questions directly, if at all and the people have been left more confused and uniformed than ever. Due to chronic underfunding and lack of preparedness, the UK has the largest death toll on Europe.
    In comparison the Scottish government, and especially FM Sturgeon,, has been coherent and informed, and has given the Scottish people- and many throughout the other parts of the UK - much needed clarity and professional calm. This has been recognised both throughout these for Nations and internationally.

    However, although understandable, Scotland's initial response to the crisis was in lockstep with Westminster, and the following of the 'herd immunity' nonsense ( herd immunity requires a vaccine) lost very valuable time and have the virus'sample time to infect far too many Scots from the offset.

    Being open with the Scottish public about the very delicate mature of the R number makes it imperative that Scotland develops its strategy for a new normal is based upon local circumstances and requirements rather than by Westminster diktat. This is not 'divisive' , this is sensible planning. I would have p preferred Scotland's government to have taken a different, more scientific course from the outset, but I am hopeful that it will do so going forward.

  • Posted by Samof3 May 06, 2020 at 06:49

    I do not agree with this. Each region has a different population. There are different rates of infection per region based on population and age. The only common denominator present in all regions is poverty and our response to this has came from local community hubs who know about their communities needs and not from uk government.

  • Posted by Karen May 06, 2020 at 07:09

    Agree. Follow the science

  • Posted by Crofter May 06, 2020 at 07:10

    The NHS go to considerable trouble and expense creating a contact tracing app. Scottish government response? Why don’t we invent another one to confuse people, potentially cost lives, re invent the wheel and promote independence. Now that’s what I call clever!!!

  • Posted by Sundee May 06, 2020 at 07:36

    The Scottish government is not the same as the SNP.

  • Posted by Rainbowbright May 06, 2020 at 07:49

    Having different rules in the various home countries is confusing. We should all be united in our approach. Keep it simple, guidance from the UK Gov should also apply in scotland. Differing approaches means people are less likely to comply, especially if they just watch the UK news

  • Posted by cus1903 May 06, 2020 at 08:01

    too many threads of communication is upsetting to those unable to get out and waiting to see family work together give clear messages not false hope

  • Posted by MargaretR19 May 06, 2020 at 08:06

    Nobody being divisive.

  • Posted by Poppinsl May 06, 2020 at 08:19

    This virus knows no boundaries so making attempts to manage it by creating artificial boundaries will prove futile.

    The daily lives of individuals often take them from one region of Scotland or the UK to another for work. The Head Office of their employer is often in England so think of the practicalities. A divergence of approach across the UK and/or within Scotland will cause more damage than good.

  • Posted by JensenSL May 06, 2020 at 08:26

    We should definitely be allowed to take geography and demographics into account when creating policy, but keeping the message as simple as possible for ease of compliance.

  • Posted by Brendan May 06, 2020 at 08:27

    Every country in the world has its own strategy to deal with this pandemic,and rightly so. It is important that we make decisions that best suit us. We have voted in a government which has responsibilities for certain aspects of our lives. It is the duty of this government to take these responsibilities seriously and if this means making decisions which are different to the UK so be it.

  • Posted by ColinR May 06, 2020 at 08:29

    Geographically, you are right, but it seems to me ( living in the far NE of England, but before this situation part- time in far SW Scotland) that the Scottish government and DandG council, are much more open and community focussed than the London based/ focussed government. Lets at least take the opportunity of this type of consultation and public feedback that is freely offered.

  • Posted by Gregor May 06, 2020 at 08:35

    Brian I understand and respect your point...covid-19 doesn’t recognise borders...my own post talked about governments in general across the world...
    See voluntary shielding for the 1.5% post

  • Posted by mclernonmichelle May 06, 2020 at 08:43

    Any decision should be made on a local level, particularly in the areas of education and the NHS which are structured differently in Scotland. I would be supportive of the restrictions being lifted at different times in different areas/countries/councils as long as it is based on current scientific evidence.

  • Posted by Scotland_is_flatlining May 06, 2020 at 09:14

    We need a consistent approach for the whole UK. Holyrood doesn’t have the resources or means to establish closed borders. We don’t need the Scottish Ministers tinkering at the edges and obscuring the important messages.

    We are seeing the disadvantages of the disconnected approach with Scotland setting unambitious testing targets and planning to defer the introduction of Test, Track and Trace approach by 2 weeks.

  • Posted by a May 06, 2020 at 13:46

    I do not see the Scottish government being divisive, and to be honest I have not seen it in any of the briefing whether Scottish, Welsh or UK (have not seen a Northern Ireland briefing yet). The only divisiveness I feel is when the UK government minister is introduced by the tv news as the Minister for England, instead of the Minster for the UK.

  • Posted by jrob May 06, 2020 at 15:18

    Agreed.

  • Posted by emmasmith May 07, 2020 at 01:02

    We could not be more different from England in terms of the population, number of cases, number of deaths and the way the governments have handled it. I wish we didn't have to pander to Westminster at all and our FM and scotgov could just get on with it as they clearly have the best interests of the Scottish people at the heart of their decisions. England government does not care for their own people never mind Scotland. Have we forgotten about herd immunity plan?

  • Posted by Simpsojf May 07, 2020 at 15:55

    Apart from anything else, this consultation exercise makes Scotland different. In England, you do what you are told (and there is widespread defiance of the rules probably because people feel no ownership since they were not consulted in the first place). In Scotland, we are treated as adults. That's what is different.

  • Posted by aloneinthehills May 08, 2020 at 10:59

    Agree. Unity at this time is more important than any political agenda

  • Posted by wildone May 08, 2020 at 16:00

    You are only twisting things as being Nationalistic because that's what you are looking for. Scottish government leadership has been an example for the rest of the UK (and I'm not a nat!)

  • Posted by AlJones May 09, 2020 at 22:54

    Scotland is hugely different from England and needs a different approach. Last I checked, England doesn’t have loads of populated islands and a large land mass that is considerably distant from the nearest motorway. The issues that Scotland faces in meeting the needs of its population are very different from those in England.

  • Posted by Alanaand May 11, 2020 at 13:58

    Diagree. Scottish government have to do what's best for the Scottish people and I think they are doing a great job.

  • Posted by CAN24 May 11, 2020 at 19:07

    I disagree and don't think the Scottish Government is being divisive, they are putting measures in place that are taking the best interests with regards to health and well-being of the population of Scotland at the heart of everything they do. Different countries and regions of countries have different needs and wants, so it is entirely applicable to have different measures in Scotland to the rest of the UK, without it being divisive.
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