We do not look kindly on politicians at the best of times but these past three months have given us at least as much concern as we ever had over the disastrous premiership of Theresa May and our view of Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland's First Minister, which has always been bad, has sunk to a new low. Our view that all politicians are completely out of their depth has been reaffirmed a million fold.
What the Pandemic has confirmed more than anything is the utter inadequacy of the preparation of both the Westminster and Holyrood governments. Not only was there no preparation on a general level, there was no preparation at all even when politicians knew with certainty the Pandemic was heading our way. The Scottish Government is no exception. It is unforgivable and reminds one of the 1930s when everyone knew war with Germany was coming but no preparation for war was ever made. Politicians never learn the lessons of history as they live only for the here and now and the latest opinion polls.
Anyway, back to Nicola. Yesterday, Nicola made the biggest U-Turn in history when she announced that, as from 11 August, all school children in Scotland would return to normal, full-time education. Only the day before, Nicola was insisting that it would be only part-time 'blended education' for the next 12 months. To put it bluntly, Nicola became terrified by a parent-power that was having none of her 'blended learning' disaster. There is a Holyrood election next year, after all!!!!
But there's more. Yesterday, Boris at Westminster announced a significantly more liberal approach to daily life in England when he announced (a) more businesses opening and (b) a reduction in the 2-metre rule to 1-metre. Nicola, however, is staying put with a far less liberal approach in Scotland where the status quo of no more businesses opening and the 2-metre rule remain. There is no valid scientific reason for the 2-metre rule - ask the eminent scientist Professor Hugh Pennington about it - but that this will have a dreadful effect on Scotland's economy makes no difference to Nicola. Her way or the highway.
Her reasoning is simple. She is taking a chance that Boris will fall flat on his face and that Covid-19 will return to England following the 1-metre rule. Only then will she go down in history as The Great Leader she always thought of herself as. In other words, this is the do-or-die, Scotland v England showdown she always wanted.
And bugger the economy and people's lives. Independence at any cost.
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