Scotland’s own CMO can’t follow the guidelines

[BurgerQuean]

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/05/scotland-chief-medical-officer-seen-flouting-lockdown-advice-catherine-calderwood

It’s bloody ridiculous and makes her position borderline untenable, which is infuriating because she has otherwise been very good.

She has sincerely apologised. I for one accept that her apology was genuine and sincere.

Was it really genuine and sincere though? Because initially she said she was ‘checking’ the property, which gave the impression it was some kind of necessary purpose to do with securing the house or similar, but it now seems that the whole family actually went two weekends in a row, so it was clearly actually for fun / leisure.

What that shows is that she clearly doesn’t think she needs to follow the guidelines (probably because she thinks she can rely on her own judgment, which might be true for her but would be very problematic if everyone took the same approach). It wasn’t a mistake, it was a conscious decision not to follow the rules she is telling everyone else to abide by, twice.

I don’t see how she can continue to tell everyone what to do when her behaviour has given everyone the impression that it’s actually ok to not follow the rules now and then when it suits you?

@iMoan7

Essentially Nicola was saying I know this is shit but we can’t do this without her.

I think this is what I mean. Yes she screwed up but I don’t think it’s necessarily smart to fire the person with all the knowledge and mettle in the middle of an epic crisis. They should fine her a large sum like £2,000 — £4,000 and then she should get back to work.

Calderwood admitted today making two trips on consecutive weekends. She had previously given a statement to the press which omitted this fact & said she had been ‘checking’ her second home. So did she lie to the media & the government?

Yes, a large fine would at least show people that you can’t flout the rules and face no consequences beyond a little telling off from the police.

She’s said it was a mistake. Obviously took a wrong turning and ended up in fife two weekends in a row. Could happen to any of us. She’s said she’s sorry so that makes it ok 🙄

So did she lie to the media & the government?

Yes - at the very least a lie of omission.

In that case, she’s toast.

I think they should fire her. There are plenty of top doctors and scientists who could take over with support of the English CMO and scientists who have a very similar approach. To let her stay sends a bad message at a time when one of the top priorities is public voluntary adherence to the rules.

She's done a rare thing in making Joanne Freeman look good.

Is there seriously no one else who could do the job? That can't be true. The two visits are what make it really damning.

I could really do with checking on a family member's house and it would allow me to do a meter reading which I suspect would get them a significant amount of money back. However, it would be quite a journey and breaks lockdown rules so I haven't done it! There's no excuse.

This is an awkward watch 🙈

It was awful. I didn't realise she was on adverts like Chris Whitty. 😳

I was so disappointed to read this earlier, I do not want to see that bloody ad of her telling us to stay at home again, they ought to take that off air! I don't accept her apology, if she were truly sorry she wouldn't have visited two consecutive weekends, and not waited to be found out...shes sorry she's been caught

Dd was just saying that will they pull her public info film because it really is waffle .

She's been humiliated and has apologised. She should get the appropriate fine and move on. We can't afford to lose people who are good at their job.

How can I watch the press conference? Anyone know? Thanks

If you are on facebook you can see it on Bbc Scotland.

Not one weekend but two. Absolutely shocking! Can't stand SNP and wee crankie but bet she got it tight!!!

Or just google Bbc scotland news.

Thanks guys

She should be removed from her post. This is taking up valuable time and is very distracting. It will now look bad for Nicola Sturgeon if she does subsequently go. There must be a deputy CMO to step up.

We can't afford to lose people who are good at their job.

Of course we can, especially when their actions have the potential to make the jobs of others harder.

Agree that she should be removed. It just isn’t appropriate for her to continue.

We can't afford to lose people who are good at their job.

Really? So no one who does anything wrong should ever suffer consequences for it if they're 'good at their job'?

I also think it's debatable to say she's good at her job if her behaviour discourages others from taking government advice seriously. Upholding the credibility of that advice IS part of her job.

I would not be surprised if people became more relaxed about lock down and social distancing now, after all CMO may know something we don't which meant it's okay to travel to second home.