Out or In..a Divided Nation

We are receiving two different messages in the UK just now from the powers that be... Boris is staying those who can’t work from home should attempt to get back to work (to help keeping the economy ticking) although with certain precautions, Sturgeon, first minister in Scotland is telling everyone to stay locked up.

The rationale for the lockdown was to flatten the curve to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Given that ICUs are half empty and temporary hospitals have been mothballed due to not being used should the lockdown not be relaxed slightly? Getting some people back to work, for example those who can’t work from home such as builders and construction does make sense. It is a balancing act,  we can’t afford the economy to die as these we will have an austerity driven poverty which will cause more deaths.. a case of the cure being worst than the disease. 

Of course Sturgeon has taken a wee giddy hissy fit and gives out a different message to Boris. She may talk a good game at the podium but tell us what has she really done? Doesn’t know even what the ‘r’ number is. Care Home directive sent out in error. PPI and testing for front line workers and vulnerable in Care Homes are a disgrace. 

Remember Scotland has the highest drugs related deaths and lowest life expectancy in Europe, who will suffer most if the economy dies and forced austerity kicks in? 

As I have said, it’s a very fine balancing act, a flare up is inevitable until we have a vaccine and we cannot stay locked down until we have a vaccine ... it could be years ...we can’t afford such an impact on the economy as with no workers no tax no money getting into the NHS so then cut backs and then the most vulnerable will suffer, cancer and heart disease does not pause because we stay at home! 

So, coming back to it, the point of the lockdown was to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed. A flare up would not overwhelm it given the build up in capacity. Of course people will die, this is an unavoidable tragedy, I don’t want to sound cold but we need to look at the bigger picture and think about the lesser of two evils ... no economy no money cut backs for cancer suffers, neo natal words trauma units etc ....will Scotland stay entirely locked up whilst England goes back to work and and pays taxes so Westminster can continue to pay 75% of the self-employees wages  of up in Scotland (well paying the Scottish Government the money which apparent does not appear to be all given out to the people who need it) That will certainly create the division Sturgeon wants. 

Just remember that if we (Scotland) broke from the rest of the UK in 2014 we would have been sunk without trace with the double whammy of covid19 and the collapsing oil price... don’t allow Sturgeon to play separation politics during this pandemic.
It is untenable that the Treasury pays the wages of Scots and bails out Scottish businesses while English people go to work and Scots don't. Everyone in Britain is benefiting from the Chancellor keeping us going financially. There needs to be a shared risk too.
Consider this for a moment.. (what I read written by someone else)  “English soldiers took part in D Day because a previous incarnation of Nicola Sturgeon thought it was too dangerous for Scots to take part” .... how would that go down?  We reap the benefits but don’t take the risks?  Are we really like that?