Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think it's ridiculous that Scotland is still in full lockdown..

417 replies

YouHurtMeSoMuch · 18/05/2020 13:05

And no change before the 28th. What the hell is Nichola Sturgeon thinking?!

OP posts:
Blanca87 · 19/05/2020 07:48

The link above is an article which helps explain the rationale of both governments.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 07:54

@nihiloxina, it's is a point because although each activity if observed correctly is not a risk, if everyone was doing those activities it would pose a risk. And some people doing them and others not (as they are doing what they are told is necessary to protect the vulnerable) means that it has adverse effects on people's mental health. Plus, people play at doing it without being within two meters but grow complacent and or emboldened and in the meantime it means everyone else has to go on for longer. It's just fucking selfish.

Also add that although Glasgow and area do have higher levels of health issues, the country as a whole has a lower level of the biggest risk which is being black or Asian. Its also noted that those areas have the highest levels of fines and arrests for breaching lock down rules.

TeacupDrama · 19/05/2020 08:10

I'm English but DH is Scottish have lived here for 26 years, NHS and education are devolved so are NS responsibility, I'm not sure lockdown has really achieved that much anywhere as the statistics show similar patterns everywhere, mostly the old and the medically vulnerable are worst affected, lockdown doesn't alter this pattern, it flattens curve do not do many ill at once.

Scotland is behind England
And especially London as they peaked earlier so are past peak earlier. The death and infections rates in Scotland have not dropped so much as England, however there are also large areas of particularly rural Scotland with very cases, as someone mentioned 10 out of the 15 health boards in Scotland have less than 5 in ICU.

NHS is a devolved matter so if there is a shortage of PPE in London, it is ultimately up to Boris to solve, PPE shortages in Glasgow are Nicola's responsibility not Boris's procurement of PPE is a worldwide problem, no one whether Tory or SNP can magic masks or scrubs or covid tests out of nowhere. Care home deaths and inspections in Scotland are due to NHS Scotland decisions always were, this is not something that changed in March, it appears the death rate per million and R rate and infections per million are higher in Scotland, but generally before this health and life expectancy in Scotland was s bit lower than in England.

I don't vote SNP and never will but NS is not an angel compared to Boris, neither is she the wicked witch of the west. It is just as understandable that we are in lockdown 2-3 weeks longer as death / infection rate not dropping so fast as in England, but it is equally logical that England should ease up when their figures show a continuing, consistent and definite decline. This to me looks scientific there is no reason for all 4 nations to be the same when disease levels are not the same.
Nicola had said thought was been given to open up some areas of Scotland before others due to figures, there have been no new cases in Western isles for a few weeks, there is a reluctance to do this as doesn't seem fair for one group to have more freedom than another but it would be following the science. Other countries have done this , Germany France Spain Italy where some counties or areas are more affected than others.

Politically parties have to be different to justify existence, so while I think NS is following science she has to be a bit different too no party completely follows science. A healthy economy is part of health, the area of Scotland affected worst by Covid is Glasgow this is not random it is expected, it already has the poorest health, the lowest life expectancy, highest deprivation and poorest housing these things are inextricably linked, anyone could have guessed years ago that Glasgow would be much worse than Highland and the Borders.

There would have been a scientific case in England to keep lockdown longer in NW and NE regions but it wouldn't have been politically expedient, there is a similar scientific case in Scotland to ease lockdown in the areas with less than 5 in ICU but it wouldn't be politically acceptable to keep Glasgow Aberdeen Dundee and Edinburgh in lockdown and ease up elsewhere

All politicians everywhere try to balance science against public opinion and expediency even when they pull or point in different directions

MorrisZapp · 19/05/2020 08:15

Interesting and informative post teacup. Incidentally, the Times reports that Dundee has fared much better than would have been expected. Apparently Tayside got track and trace set up early.

Lockdownlife · 19/05/2020 08:17

I'm in Scotland and I don't mind that were still in lockdown. It'll be nice tog et out eventually but our time will come.

Most people I know are really happy to still be in lockdown and only 2 people I know are stretching the rules a bit now because England can.

DoTheNextRightThing · 19/05/2020 08:20

Nicola is trying to prevent us from dying of COVID-19. Personally, I'm glad she is taking this so seriously. Better locked down than dead.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 08:33

I'm not sure where "it's not fair” sits with the assertation made frequently that she would not keep lock down in place for a moment longer than necessary.

As I've said, for the right reasons, I'm ok to keep lock down, I'm not okay with those reasons being that others are breaking it.

It just seems pointless and unfair, especially when a lot of the film breaking it are more vulnerable than we are.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 08:36

Testing is the root of it again. We believe we had it in March, DH is front line NHS and was off for two weeks. However, we'll maybe never know as there is no guarantee we have antibodies or that we couldn't effectively get it again/get it for the first time.

Sweetiepye · 19/05/2020 09:38

I can’t stand Nicola Sturgeon, but feel that (apart from the fiasco over the former CMO of Scotland) she has dealt with the CV issue pretty well.

Can’t believe I have just praised her. 🤦‍♀️

PickUpThePieces · 19/05/2020 10:00

I wish Nicola Sturgeon hadn’t talked about ‘bubbles’ of people getting together weeks ago as it raised the hopes of our elderly relatives in Scotland that some restrictions would be lifted sooner.
We are desperate to get up there to socially distance with them.

The ‘grown up conversation’ looks now like it was just NS saying something for the sake of it.

Our family who live in Glasgow have had takeaway options and queuing for food/ coffee practically since the start of Lockdown.
We live in rural England and have had nothing like that here.
Apart from my one trip to a garden centre this week, our Scottish family has had far more potential exposure than us.
The difference between living in the country and living in the city is almost of more significance than what country we live in.

I’m concerned because my elderly MIL knows that her neighbours are having friends round to visit using the communal close, so as many others have said there are selfish idiots everywhere.

In terms of Nicola Sturgeon, it’s all very Presidential, one woman show. It’s important to have the various Ministers of State at the podium next to the Chief Scientists at the Westminster daily briefings.
We can see who is accountable for the different depts and they should be held up for scrutiny.
Yes, Boris Johnson is PM but we have a Cabinet involved in the running of the country.

John Swinney is the Scottish equivalent of Uncle Colm in Derry Girls. The only politician so dull in his delivery, he makes Dominic Rabb look positively charismatic.
Or the young Scottish finance minister who did very well stepping into the shoes of the disgraced Derek Mackay but compared to Rishi Sunak looks like the graduate trainee.
If NS was confident in the abilities of those around her, it would look less like all the responsibility lies on her shoulders.

Not only is there no effective Opposition in Scotland but as PP says, there also seems to be a dearth of talent within the SNP.

I’m sure NS is doing what she thinks is right for Scotland.
She’s keeping a lot of plates spinning and a couple more weeks buys her some time to check out the benefits / mistakes being made by Westminster and other govts.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 19/05/2020 10:05

The difference between living in the country and living in the city is almost of more significance than what country we live in.

Exactly. I live on the edge of a village in England and the packed London transport scenes are alien to me. It's quiet round here, but then it always is.
Even the nearest town is quiet by all accounts (I haven't been in but my mum has), because most of the shops are still closed.

LagunaBubbles · 19/05/2020 10:35

Obviously scottish people pay tax but you have heard of the Barnett formula haven’t you. The English tax payer does generally lose out and we do get less money spent per head on us

Mmm strange then Westminster are so keen to hold onto Scotland if we are such a free loading burden eh??

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 10:51

The barnet formula is designed to bring a bit of equality in the ability to deliver services in what is generally a more rural setting. It's easier and cheaper to deliver services in areas of higher population density, so, areas like cornwall etc will also have more spent on them per head.

Unless you are suggesting that we just clear all the folk from the Highlands and move them to Birmingham or similar?

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 10:55

We also have different tax rates here so I pay more than I would in England.

TeacupDrama · 19/05/2020 12:04

the barnet formula though technically for devolved parts of the country is to compansate for the extra costs of delivering services over a wider area this applies within England too a few regions of England benefit from an internal cost differential in that tax paid in doesn't equal tax payers money in
collecting 100 bins across North Yorkshire Moors obviously takes longer ( with associated costs) that collecting 100 bins from a street in Leeds, in central Leeds your local primary is probably about a maximum of 1000 metres away no costs for school transport, primary on edge of moors needs mini buses to bring pupils from remote hamlets and farms for some the nearest primary school is 10 miles away

macaroniandpizza · 19/05/2020 12:21

Its not ridiculous to still be in full lockdown here its ridiculous that its began to be lifted in england though

New posts on this thread. Refresh page