So it looks like Scotland will be locked down longer than the rest of the uk

[frasersmummy]

Judging by Nicola Sturgeons remarks today Scotland will remain In lockdown as it is now till the end of May while England will start easing up

Given we have so many less deaths in Scotland does anyone else feel Nicola is just making an independence point now

Her day job is running Scotland which is exactly what she is doing. If she wasn't doing her day job she would be sitting with her feet up and letting Boris make all the decisions. And we know how well that's going in England

Sadie We'll just have to see how many Scots have a brain. I like to think that's the majority.

How to reduce the spread of a very infectious deadly disease is basic common sense. Something that Nicola clearly posseses.

You do know that health and education are devolved issues ?

I think she would say the polar opposite to whatever the government advised. If they said they’ll reopen in June she’s say May.

I mean advised what they’d do

I’ve always noticed what lovely styled hair she has for briefings though 😉

@StoorieHoose health and education are two elements in a considerably more complex matrix, but you can keep it simple if it makes you feel better about being used as political pawn.

If she does go with staying in lockdown I suspect she may get support from Drakeford in Wales, it will not go down well here either.

Despite being a very firm No voter, I think she's doing the right thing as much as it pains me to say it! Because cases are still rising in the NE and the situation in care homes is dire and worsening. Look at any of the BBC briefings and the death rate isn't falling like it is in the rest of the UK.

All those saying it's point scoring against WM do you really 5hinknshe has deviated from what they are saying to date or is your hatred for her and or the SNP getting in the way

@ToffeeYoghurt you and I know very well there is a considerable proportion of Scots who don’t have a brain - or more accurately, barely give a shit at the best of times.

I'm not being used a political pawn. I think she is doing the best she can in the circumstances.

No. I think she cares about people and wants to try and keep our deaths down.

^
This

Furloughed staff in scotland - is that paid for through Westminster? Blooming win for NS if so.

I think it’s atrocious and she is just making a point.

We do pay tax in Scotland you know!

NS has been much better in briefings than the Westminster Govt, especially BJ, (less rah rah rah and more facts) but the lockdown where we are is starting to creak - we've very few cases, very few people dying (thankfully, even in care homes) but are usually at the bottom of the heap when it comes to attention (or money) from the Scottish Government, many small businesses, self employed etc., who could easily have continued working and are now really suffering. I don't know how people will react to another 3 weeks of lockdown.

@custodiandiscount couldn't agree with you more . It pains me that I'm actually watching her and trusting in her. When before when she came on the TV I would turn it off straight away . Still wouldn't vote SNP though .

She is doing a great job, i agree with what she is doing.

I also think she’s doing a good job.

Some of the comments here are very childish.

She is following medical advice and advice from the WHO. The latter were very scathing about Boris saying the UK had passed its peak. The trajectory of the graphs don't support that. Boris is trying to appease Tory funders who are complaining about the economy. Nicola isn't and I'm very grateful for that.
Tbh if she had wanted to push an independence argument, she'd have locked down earlier and shut the border. I'd have supported that too.

It's tough work being a leader in a pandemic. Whenever you take a road there's always plenty of people to say you should have taken the one above or below it. Whatever's gone well and gone badly so far, I don't doubt that the leaders of all four nations fervently hope that each decision is the right one. I expect all four nations will take the same path, but the spin will be different according to characters.

@Defenestratethecat every small business owner will be on tenterhooks right now for NS next “move” because if England lifts some restrictions and she doesn’t it is going to absolutely kill businesses in Scotland. Instantly on the back foot. English businesses get a massive head start as does their economy.

She doesn’t value business or entrepreneurship in Scotland though. She wants everyone the same, under the control of the government, socialist you see... hence the preference for broad brush policies.

The COVID crisis has been a god send for Nicola.

First it obliterated the Alex Salmond trial which barely made the news.

Then it gave her a podium from which she cannot be ousted right now. Even when her handpicked chief med officer seriously embarrassed her, she remains untouchable because we’re in the midst of a crisis. She is acting like Scotland is independent. It isn’t. Westminster is ultimately in charge, like it or not.

I suppose it is one way of being independent 😳

Tbh, it wouldn't work if the nation's took different paths - many locally buy their alcohol in Berwick or Carlisle to avoid minimum pricing so I guess if Westminster eased up on lockdown everyone here would be flocking south to the pubs and fish chip shops.

Interesting that the assumption is that Nicola is politically 'going against Westminster' and 'point scoring' rather than considering that as a Scotland isn't last it's peak, it's fucking irresponsible of the UK government at Westminster to attempt to ease lockdown and risk the health of its devolved nations.

But who cares as long as England is ok...