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AIBU?

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Original poster

So now we are allowed to visit second homes.......

370 replies

Loadsadosh · 05/04/2020 09:30

Is this a case of do what I say, not what I do......
“The Chief Medical Officer in Scotland, Catherine Calderwood, 51, was snapped strolling across a golf course with her husband and kids after flouting lockdown advice by heading to her coastal property this weekend.”

The response from the Scottish Government......
”An SNP Government spokesman replied: “Since this start of this epidemic, the CMO has been working seven days a week preparing Scotland’s response.
“She took the opportunity this weekend to check on a family home in Fife as she knows she will not be back again until the crisis is over.
“She stayed overnight before returning to Edinburgh. In line with guidance she stayed within her own household group and observed social distancing with anyone she was in passing in the village.”

I am sure everyone else who has a second home would like to use it, or check on it, as well! Am I being unfair in thinking this is double standards and an absolute disgrace that this has been defended by a Government spokesman.

OP posts:
Rosehip10 · 05/04/2020 15:00

Turns out she went to her second home with her husband weekend before!

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 05/04/2020 15:00

I question anyone’s decision making
having done this. She was spotted walking her dogs so she was clearly having a wee holiday

I do think she has to go

ChicCroissant · 05/04/2020 15:01

She was there last weekend as well? WTF?! Why have they even got her there today, not helping anyone's credibility now!

Likethebattle · 05/04/2020 15:02

She’s just admitted she did it two weekends in a row!

Ohdeariedear · 05/04/2020 15:04

@Flavabobble me too!

Flavabobble · 05/04/2020 15:06

She went twice?! Did I really just hear that?

Mascotte · 05/04/2020 15:07

Seriously?!

Is the advice just pish then?

Verily1 · 05/04/2020 15:09

It shows how far removed the elite are from the rest of us- ‘staying home’ to her means she gets to flit between her homes as she has 2!

How much is she on that she has a £1.5 million property in Edinburgh and a fancy house in a rural idyll too?

Another overpaid plutocrat!

Enough4me · 05/04/2020 15:09

Yes, two weekends in a row, because she has money and a big house and the rules don't apply to her or her family, just to ours.

Rosehip10 · 05/04/2020 15:09

@Flavabobble Yep, break this weekend with husband/kids dog and last weekend break with husband.

MintyMabel · 05/04/2020 15:11

She shouldn't have done this, but the people saying she should be sacked are bonkers. If I had a second home I'd go to it. If they stay in isolation and have food delivered I don't see the issue.

You actually demonstrate why she should be sacked. You don’t see what’s wrong with doing is so why shouldn’t you, if she’s doing it.

The reason people are asked to stay at home is to reduce the spread. Isolation reduces the risk but it doesn’t eliminate it. Having guidance as strict as it is stops the “well I’m doing this and I think it’s ok” sort of thing we are still seeing. What she has done will encourage others who perhaps aren’t as careful as they think to do the same.

I’m usually the last person to jump on the fire them bandwagon, but in this instance I think her position is untenable because the one thing you need if you are advising a nation how to behave in any situation is the public’s trust. You really don’t think if people want to justify poor behaviour during this, they won’t use this as a reason? I’ll continue to do as advised and follow the guidelines, but I’m not sure I can trust her judgement now. Even if she was completely safe, surely to god something in her head should have jumped to the optics of this?

And for the government to excuse it as they have makes me distrust them more too. Do you seriously think if this was a Westminster MP who had done this, the SNP would been quite so apologist for them?

thefourgp · 05/04/2020 15:13

She’s a hypocrite and needs to be demoted by way of example.

thefourgp · 05/04/2020 15:14

I’ll no longer listen to one word she has to say.

KaronAVyrus · 05/04/2020 15:15

Bloody hell, she’s been twice. This just gets worse.

Chemenger · 05/04/2020 15:15

She was probably planning to go every weekend so that statement the Scottish government issues about needing to check on the house was total nonsense.

Original poster
Loadsadosh · 05/04/2020 15:15

SNP Government spokesman said this morning “She took the opportunity this weekend to check on a family home in Fife as she knows she will not be back again until the crisis is over.”

Well given that she was there the weekend before as well, I doubt that would have been the case if she hadn’t been found out! Once is unforgivable, never mind twice.

The worst thing in all this is that the actions of the CMO for Scotland has completely overshadowed any other business. She needs to go.

OP posts:
KaronAVyrus · 05/04/2020 15:16

Agreed, she clearly wasn’t checking on her house. This is ridiculous.

BlondieBeachBum · 05/04/2020 15:17

It was a stupid thing to do. She has apologised profusely. Shame that the whole conference was based on this though. And now is not the time to sack the Chief Medical Officer.

MysticMeghan · 05/04/2020 15:20

To the poster who said she thought it was disgraceful that people have second homes. I chose to invest my money in property. If I had put it in the Bank or invested in shares you wouldn't have had a problem with it. How I choose to invest my money is my own business, no-one else's. It is not incumbent on me to solve the housing crisis. Nor would the sale of my home assist it. I have followed Govt advice and isolated in my first home. The money I used to buy my second home was inherited. I lost both my parents very young. I would rather my parents had lived and I didn't have the money. But there you are. Oh, and the house I bought was derelict and abandoned. I spent 20 years rebuilding it and giving employment to local tradesmen. If I hadn't bought it it would still be derelict and unliveable. So really wouldn't have helped the housing crisis anyway.

derxa · 05/04/2020 15:23

She’s getting her arse handed to her on a plate at today’s press conference Yep. I may as well drive back to my first home in England. I haven't seen my DH and DS2 for weeks now.

fallfallfall · 05/04/2020 15:27

People are just jealous. Is it fair for people who have bigger homes to use all the rooms? After all who needs to shoot pool??
Non essentials and all.

MintyMabel · 05/04/2020 15:29

And now is not the time to sack the Chief Medical Officer.

I’d presume she has a deputy. If not, that’s piss poor planning during a global pandemic.

Flavabobble · 05/04/2020 15:31

It was a stupid thing to do.
So stupid she did it twice.
She has apologised profusely.
Only after getting caught
Shame that the whole conference was based on this though.
What else would you expect? The police cautioned her with her own advice!
And now is not the time to sack the Chief Medical Officer.
I think her position is untenable, she had no intention of following her own guidelines, and especially given the message Matt Hancock was giving this morning.

BigChocFrenzy · 05/04/2020 15:33

Well, it's OK if you're CMO or a Royal

She should have got the maximum fine for herself and anyone she took with her
plus an official reprimand in her file

No grade or salary rises for her for the forseeable

BigChocFrenzy · 05/04/2020 15:34

and time the Royals got fined for that too

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