Sir, – Jenny Hjul’s opinion article (Tide has turned for Nicola, Courier, June 3) cites Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying the UK has lowest deaths and infection rate.
Compared to who, I ask?
The USA or Brazil, and over what timescale?
She quotes Hancock’s statement that contact tracing is working well, with no increase in transmissions.
Hancock did not produce any detail on this metric, and as we know the devil is always in the detail.
Several epidemiologists have spoken to the press expressing concerns that test and trace is not ready yet.
Cafés and bars in Europe are open without ill effects, allegedly.
Ms Hjul misrepresents the situation by not advising that Europe shut down several weeks ahead of the UK and is in a better state in terms of infection rate and death rates due to this early lockdown.
The UK and Scotland are suffering the consequence of that missed opportunity.
Commenting on travel breaches over the weekend past, Ms Hjul’s take was the first minister was most upset because the ‘hive did not obey’, she obviously doesn’t know her. Perhaps she cannot remember the week when she reported on the deaths in care homes, the emotion in her voice was palpable.
Nowhere in her opinion piece on these breaches of travel did she remark on the influence that Dominic Cummings’ trip to Durham and his walk about in Barnard Castle or MP Robert Jenrick’s trip to his parents’ home.
It is common knowledge that some in our community, incorrectly, took those trips as the green light to ‘do what they do’.
Ms Hjul continues her insinuations that the Scots population are turning there back on the guidelines. I would like to see the data that supports this view.
There were some who broke rules at the weekend past.
But it only takes one or two people to be ‘Covid infected’ and shedding the virus but not yet ill themselves to cause an up-tick in infections and it takes a few days for any increased infections to become visible. It may also be hidden by the continued reduction elsewhere in Scotland.
Ms Hjul’s description of Scots looking over the dyke at what’s happening in England and Europe, and wanting what ‘they have’ implies the Scots are childish and selfish.
The report that Police Scotland believes the five-mile travel limit is unenforceable is an opinion, and if that is the only way to stop the virus spread then they will be provided with suitable legislation to support this travel limit.
Finally, Ms Hjul tries to write the premature demise of our first minister.
There will be a point where she will stand aside but that, in my opinion, is many years in the future.
Might I remind Ms Hjul that we have Brexit to negotiate.
Alistair Ballantyne.
Birkhill,
Angus.
Drop those lofty ambitions
Sir, – Is First Minister Nicola Sturgeon developing a Messiah complex?
Day after day it is she alone who dispenses wisdom from the dais at her TV coronavirus briefings to the nation.
Her approach is very personalised – to paraphrase: ‘I am focused on, I have determined, my opinion is’, etcetera.
Mention of colleagues is en passant, the UK Government’s pivotal role in shoring up the Scottish economy largely unacknowledged.
If opposition politicians such as MSP Daniel Johnson and MP Ian Murray request information or question her strategy or tactics – challenge her say on the shocking death rates in Scottish care homes – their questions are barely answered.
They are wafted aside with the now familiar: ‘I’m not interested in party politics’.
Everyone but the naïve realises this grandiose response aims to circumvent detailed scrutiny of her very personal handling of the crisis in Scotland.
Sturgeon is, many suspect, more focused on intra-party politics.
By essentially monopolising the SNP administration’s response to the coronavirus, she is readying herself for factional battles that lie ahead, threatened by Alex Salmond to engulf the SNP.
Joanna Cherry, Sturgeon’s rival for power, can’t compete with her current massive exposure to the public – and party members who decide who is the SNP leader.
Few suggest Sturgeon is not doing her best, nor that she does not accept responsibility for her management of the pandemic in Scotland.
Yet, with Scotland’s coronavirus death rates among the world’s worst, it is vital Ms Sturgeon drops her lofty pretensions and becomes more transparent.
Martin Redfern.
Melrose,
Roxburghshire.
Thanks to MP for 19th Century
Sir, – I can understand how Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for the 19th Century, would be uncomfortable with ‘virtual voting… new-fangled ways and all’.
But surely somebody should have advised him that cramming the House of Commons with MPs, closely packed, barking and braying, saliva flying in all directions, might not be a good idea.
Particularly when, to get there from far flung parts of the realm, they are having to travel by new-fangled aeroplanes, steam trains, even public autobuses, mingling with the hoi polloi as they go.
And it was inevitable that, sooner rather than later, in the fetid frenzy of the grandmother of Parliaments, one of the honourable members would contract the virus, and fall ill, leading to a requirement for all of the honourable members to self isolate, making attendance in the house impossible.
How richly ironic.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Lots of work ahead for bailiffs
Sir, – Scots used to be renowned for their high propensity to save for a rainy day, often attributed to the Protestant work ethic.
But since the crash of 2008 the Bank of England has pursued a policy of dangerously cheap money, and huge numbers of people have been lured into serious debt.
The bank is nominally independent, but the real blame lies with successive Tory governments.
As furloughing is wound down and the freeze on evictions is lifted, the awful price of over-borrowing will become clear.
Many with mortgages will become bank tenants for life, the fat cats will be picking up properties at knockdown prices, and second-hand cars will be ten-a-penny.
Can’t pay? We’ll take it away!
There will certainly be lots of work for bailiffs.
George Morton.
29 Hudson Road,
Rosyth.
Verging on the ridiculous
Sir, – I’m increasingly worried about Dundee City Council’s inaction regarding grass-cutting procedures.
Grass cutting has not taken place so far this year.
I understand the current situation is a problem, but mostly grass cutting is done by one person, socially distanced from any other.
Maybe Dundee City Council will give all council tax payees a discount as they have provided little or no services?
They have increased our council tax.
There’s no reason why they can’t keep grass cut and areas tidy.
John Mcgregor.
1 Eastwell Road,
Dundee.
