Question for Sturgeon: Why can’t Scottish businesses deliver when English rivals can? – Brian Wilson

Nicola Sturgeon needs to face tougher scrutiny over the implementation of the coronavirus lockdown in Scotland, writes Brian Wilson.

Nicola Sturgeon gives a press briefing on the coronavirus outbreak (Picture: Scottish Government/AFP via Getty Images)

Experience now suggests that the Scottish Government’s daily briefings should involve shorter monologues and much wider-ranging scrutiny.

In the Chief Medical Officer debacle, it was only when questions were allowed that the whole front rapidly unraveled. Whatever Dr Catherine Calderwood’s transgressions, no non-politician should have been exposed to that humiliation.

These briefings should provide clear supplementary information within devolved areas, including the NHS. We then need searching questions which require answers.

The medical people are well qualified to elucidate within their professional field which should leave politicians to be grilled on policy and implementation – both on health-related matters where clear public concern exists but also on the wider fall-out.

No government is omnipotent or is expected to be. They need challenged and there are plenty examples of why this is overdue on economic implications.

Early on, huge confusion was caused when the Prime Minister spoke of “essential travel to work” which Ms Sturgeon translated as “travel to essential work”. They are not the same thing and there was urgent need for clarification which never arrived.

One substantial employer e-mailed me this week: “Everyone in England (competitors) keep working away delivering for our customers when we can’t, and I strongly suspect those in Holyrood are blissfully unaware.” They are far from alone.

Then, as highlighted here last week, there is real anger about funding for retail businesses being diverted, contrary to what MSPs were told. Half of Scottish businesses say they could go bust by July. Yet there is no minister with economic responsibility at these briefings. We need clarity and accountability. That requires hard questioning on every aspect and these briefings are the only current forum through which that could be delivered.