Sturgeon's statement on beer gardens does not add up says Jamie Stone
One Highland MP has torn into First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s statement on entering phase two of the lockdown road map today by claiming it “doesn’t add up.”
Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Jamie Stone called for the evidence behind the move – which ran against her own plan to leave lockdown – be published.
He also questioned why she revealed a new announcement – which is due in about two weeks time – should fall so close to the anticipated date of the restarting of the tourism sector.
Ms Sturgeon disappointed many with a highly cautious approach that did not deliver on her government's own route out of lockdown plan.
But Mr Stone insists that he respected the First Minister’s caution but worried that businesses were being left in the lurch because this information only came through her statement.
"Whilst I really am committed to being as constructive as possible and not playing party politics during a pandemic, I have to say that some of what the First Minister announced did not add up,” he said.
"She said that advice on reopening of the outdoor hospitality would not potentially be published until July 2 – that's less than two weeks before the tourism industry is set to open up in Scotland.
"How can it be that small shops with outdoor entrances can now open up, but outdoor businesses like pubs with beer gardens cannot? It was my understanding that the virus was not as infectious outside.
"I do not want to second guess the evidence, but it would be helpful if the First Minister could publish the scientific evidence on this and share it with such businesses in the Highlands – it's important we are all kept in the loop.
"I appreciate the First Minister's caution. I've always shared it, but I'm increasingly concerned that she has not kept businesses in the loop during the implementation of her route map. It seems to me that the left-hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing."
