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'Sturgeon has used Covid-19 to score political points' - Telegraph readers on Scotland's pandemic response

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces lifting of some Coronavirus lockdown rules at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood on July 9 -  Getty Images Europe/ WPA Pool
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces lifting of some Coronavirus lockdown rules at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood on July 9 - Getty Images Europe/ WPA Pool

As Scotland continues to diverge from England on a number of its coronavirus polices, Nicola Sturgeon's failure to rule out imposing restrictions at the border has only further highlighted the contrast in Scotland's plans compared to those drawn up in Westminster.

Earlier this month, Ms Sturgeon criticised air bridges proposals and branded the Government's travel plans as "shambolic" after insisting that she will not be "dragged along" by decisions made in London.

But what does this mean for the future of the Union? Is Scotland's reluctance to follow the Government's guidance a sign of what's to come? Telegraph readers have had their say on this while discussing whether Scotland has been wise in carving out its own Covid-19 response strategy.

Read on to see what your fellow readers have had to say below and then share your own thoughts in the comments section below. 

'The issue Scotland has is about centralised power'

@David McWilliam:

"I'm half Scottish, was christened at a Scottish Church in Corby (like a mini Scotland in England) by a Scottish minister. I've always considered myself not English, not Scottish, but British. There's always been a healthy rivalry between the nations, but my Dad would be appalled at the current extremists at Holyrood. The nationalists are ramping up anti-English sentiment (as nationalists do).

"As I never tire of pointing out, the issue that Scotland has with the UK is really about centralised power - and it annoys us in Birmingham, Truro or Newcastle, just as much as it annoys the Scots and the Welsh.

"The answer is not to weaken the UK, but to decentralise institutions; the media, government departments. Capital cities are always going to be the key focus in a nation, but this country takes it too far. At the moment, London seems far more of a different country to the rest of the UK than Scotland does - despite Sturgeons' best efforts.

"I’m seriously considering cancelling our holiday to Scotland at the beginning of August. It’s supposed to be a relaxing family holiday, but it sounds like we’re not welcome."

'They have exploited Covid-19 for their own political ends'

@Peter Irwin:

"Sturgeon has suggested there could be a quarantine closed border, it is enough of a provocation by her and the SNP. They have exploited, as have others in the UK, Covid restrictions for their own political ends even when they claim that is not the case, hiding their motives under the fig leaf of public health.

"Chickens may well come home to roost here, were even the hint of a closed border generated by the SNP will be enough to disenfranchise people from travelling to Scotland. Frankly, people however a minority, standing on a motorway bridge hurling abuse at travellers going north, coupled with Sturgeon’s lukewarm response to condemning it, will have sent out a message about how welcoming Scotland is to people outside its borders."

'Scotland is easing restrictions in a safe way'

@NomDe Plum:

"Nice to see Scotland focusing on getting people back together in a safe way. It does look like that is the direction of travel in Scotland - normalising society whilst being cautious about other things."

'Sturgeon has made political capital from a lucky situation'

@P G Tips:

"Scotland got lucky. Covid entered the UK via England and got hold in the major cities before a response. Scotland was at an earlier stage in the epidemic than England when the measures started coming in, and so saw a relatively lower peak.

"Sturgeon has been making political capital from this lucky situation. She inflates minor policy differences to build a “bio-border” in the mind of the Scottish people."

'Blatant political opportunism'

@Derek Smith:

"Sturgeon’s blatant political opportunism employed on the back of this crisis will come back and bite her on the backside.

"She has just used this crisis solely to score points and pursue her nationalist agenda, how can Scots not see by now that their education, health and welfare systems have all been denigrated by the SNP?"

'Border restrictions will be an inconvenience for Scots'

@Jo Jo:

"How could Scotland implement restrictions at the border? Road blocks where everyone has to show their ID? Trains stopped at the last English station whilst passengers ID is checked? How does she propose to pay for it?

"The people this will inconvenience most is Scots returning home and Scottish hospitality businesses hoping for English tourists."

'Sturgeon forgets that she is ignoring Scots in the UK'

@M Harper:

"What Sturgeon forgets is that a lot of Scottish people live outside Scotland but in the United Kingdom and view her threats as ignoring them and the union they voted to keep."

'So much hostility to someone south of the border'

@Andrew Wilmot:

"I live in North Lincolnshire, have worked in transport for over 30 years and have also noticed the ever increasing hostility, especially in the last five or so years, towards someone from 'south of the border'. Don't mind a bit of banter but the Scottish version is outright serious hostility, unlike the Australian version which is fun and friendly, and you are expected to freely give it back.

"I am always polite and respectful, and have done nothing wrong to them, so what is their problem? Something I have never experienced whilst working around Europe.

"I got accosted a few years ago by a character in Kinross whilst having a quiet evening pint as to how I even dare come into a pub in Scotland, me being 'English'.

"I had been looking forward to showing my partner around the beautiful scenery on a few holidays, but I really don't feel I want to even try to interact with them anymore, and least of all give them my hard earned holiday money, knowing the welcome is often false, and knowing the snide remarks that would be aimed at us behind our backs.

"There are plenty of other places to go.”

'Let Scotland go its own way'

@B Snashall:

"Time to let Scotland go it’s own way. There is no point in preserving a relationship that has outlived its value. Amicable divorce as happened with Czechoslovakia. Then no further funding, subsidies or defence. They could then have any form of border from none to the equivalent of North and South Korea."

'This may backfire on Sturgeon'

@Stephen Clothier:

“This is playing very nicely for Sturgeon as she can use rule differentiation as a nice signal of Scottish independent identity. However she has to be careful not to spoil it by annoying the Scots with border closing and excessive lockdown over the rest of the UK as the national identity game may backfire on her.”

What do you think about Scotland's Covid-19 response? Let us know in the comments section  below.