Why Scottish-English Border row was particularly idiotic – Brian Wilson

Nicola Sturgeon and Jacob Rees-Mogg got into a row over the Scottish Border (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA)

Professor Devi Sridhar, who advises the Scottish Government, recently posted: “If you’re wondering why more public health people didn’t speak out publicly in early March ... fear of losing grant income is a key factor.”

Since then, Professor Sridhar has put herself on the safe side, having set the hare running about quarantining people entering Scotland from England. I hope she looked at social media, though not for too long unless she has a strong stomach, to learn more about her new fan-base.

Nicola Sturgeon then refused to rule out something that is incapable of being ruled in. So, in the midst of a pandemic, we end up with an idiotic argument about borders, which viruses do not generally respect. All we needed was Jacob Rees-Mogg to join the circus, which he duly did.

Very oddly, Professor Sridhar also tweeted: “The number of people just waiting with glee to see New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Greece, Taiwan, Denmark, Germany and other countries lose control of Covid. Schadenfreude.”

This is weird. Does she know people who think like that? And why does Scotland, with 4,200 deaths in a population of 5.5 million, feature among countries which have kept deaths to one-tenth of that ratio? It all seems a bit strange.

Professor Sridhar’s colleague at Edinburgh University, Professor Roland Kao, has modelled that action following the Nike outbreak in Edinburgh could have saved 2,000 lives. Fatefully, it remained secret.

In due course, we will know whether that was on the basis of, or contrary to, scientific advice. Let’s hope that “fear of losing grant income” was not and will not be “a key factor” when it comes to seeking that essential truth.

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