Re: Coronavirus
 

Re: Coronavirus
 

Delicious. The SNP machine spent all morning telling everyone she’d done nothing wrong, move along now, nothing to see here. Apparently the party that can do no wrong, got it wrong.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Good timing though.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes, the Boris news is convenient cover for her resignation. Very surprised she wasn't asked to step down though.

Re: Coronavirus
 

It’s difficult to explain to anyone who doesn’t swim in Scottish politics every day of the week. The view you get of Sturgeon and the SNP down south is not the same as we get here where they are on the tv news every single sudding day.

The SNP is above everything else a campaigning organisation that believes in the righteousness of The Cause (that being independence). They have come to believe that their cause is so right that they, being in pursuit of it, can do no wrong. That tips over into everything they do. People who should get sacked don’t get sacked. People who should be criticised are defended. It’s a knee jerk reflex response, borne out of an inability to believe that the SNP (or by extension those working for it) can do any wrong. And yes, I am aware that Calderwood was a government employee and not a party hack but here in Scotland over the last 13 years the lines have become very blurred and the SNP shows precious little evidence that it understands the difference between itself and Scotland.

If Nicola Sturgeon was the politician that everyone in England seems to think she is, she would have had the instincts to distance herself from Calderwood today. But she didn’t. She had her government press office issue a strident defence of her all morning, and then this afternoon, embarrassingly, used the daily Covid press conference to state emphatically that she had to remain in post because of her expertise. That is because Sturgeon’s instinct is always that Sturgeon is right, the people Sturgeon is associated with are right, and everyone who questions her is a Tory.

It remains to be seen whether Boris’ hospitalisation will deflect much attention from this in the Scottish press tomorrow. Scottish news editors tend to have their own agenda (even the ones working for UK-wide titles) and the front pages in Scotland are almost always different than in England.

Re: Coronavirus
 

In the Scottish press though it doesn’t really matter. SNP voters recognise the inherent bias of a London controlled unionist media and are naturally distrusting.

They will simply be preaching to their diminishing readership with their “SNP bad” mantra. While embarrassing for the SNP there’s already, understandably, traction among SNP voters in pushing the Prince Charles comparison.

The unionist parties need to get out of the rut they are stuck in relating to Scotland and offer a genuinely forward looking policy narrative rather than fight each other for the same roughly 55% of the vote.

Re: Coronavirus
 

The phrase “SNP bad” fairly neatly locates you in the debate ;)

Anyway, we’re drifting off topic here. Suffice it to say that the ex-chief medic is on every national front page in Scotland this morning, except for The National, which has a full page quote from the Declaration of Arbroath.

Move along, nothing to see here ...

Re: Coronavirus
 

Ah Scottish politics...

But yes we are drifting.

Some “analysis” while not referring to Boris specifically seems to be indicating the likelihood is his condition could be quite serious - simple testing could be done in Downing Street. Rather worrying really.

Re: Coronavirus
 

There were some unproven reports last week that his condition was worse then was he or his officials were prepared to admit but Downing Street flatly denied this last week but obviously his condition has worsened thus there was only one option and that is hospitalisation before he develops serious complications.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I would imagine that the medical facilities in and around Downing Street including the Pindar Nuclear Bunker under Whitehall are somewhat more sophisticated than a green box of plasters hanging on a wall and an accident book. Also, the political optics of the Prime Minister to use NHS resources for a low level checkup wouldn't look great. Unless of course he went private which again, looks pretty bad.

For the Prime Minister to have to go to hospital suggests things are not great...

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I doubt they have a CT scanner in the bunker to check for lung damage.

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Most definitely not as CT scanners brand new would cost a pretty fair packet

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I doubt using a CT scanner requires an overnight stay though.

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Absolutely as Pneumonia among one of the potential complications is extremely dangerous as l know full well myself.

---------- Post added at 12:34 ---------- Previous post was at 12:32 ----------

That depends on the condition of the patient Andrew.

He is in the right place that is for sure.

Re: Coronavirus
 

There's multiple facets to health that need to be considered.

Going out for an hour or so a days exercise as a family group, isn't ignoring the 'lockdown' that we're currently in.

---------- Post added at 12:45 ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 ----------

It's not a class thing though, it's a space thing

My brother in law lives in Leeds with his wife and also their housemate, they live in a 3 bedroom mid terrace house with no garden/driveway. . They're struggling with this a lot more than my wife and myself who are in our detached house with front and rear gardens. Due to them being constantly on top of each other and unable to find somewhere quiet.