It’s really striking hearing all that from Nicola Sturgeon. Even though she’s saying don’t expect anything to change swiftly, she is putting it out there. She’s addressing the topic.
Yeh what is fascinating is the four nations of the United Kingdom have been really working together on all of this but when it comes to communication, there have been some differences and I think Nicola Sturgeon standing there saying she wants to have a grown-up conversation with people is inevitably going to put pressure on the UK Government because they are very much sticking to the stay at home message.
The words above from two high profile national broadcasters are clear. They cannot help but contrast this intelligent, sensitive, open, social democrat woman with the secretive, insensitive, defensive and right-wing men representing the UK.
There have been other times when BBC UK has compared the First Minister or NHS Scotland favourably with the PM or NHS England, leaving Reporting Scotland off guard and acting as if it never happened.
What did BBC Scotland have to say about the First Minister’s briefing today? They missed out her encouraging words on hospital numbers but, blow me down, Andrew Kerr agreed that her openness with the public now puts pressure on the UK Government to do the same. Are there, perhaps, differences of opinion emerging within Reporting Scotland with some elements at least warming to this PM and her government?
To some disagreement, even ridicule, I’ve taken this tack before. Last week I wondered:
And then they see Nicola Sturgeon, Kate Forbes and Jeane Freeman. Pro-EU, pro-women’s rights, socially and culturally progressive, comfortable with children, calm, patient and, of course, never ever drawn into angry attacks on the BBC or the press.
Recent reports on care home deaths with contributions from Glen Campbell and Lisa Summers suggest that all is unchanged, that is bad, with them.
Does Andrew Kerr not want to be part of their gang, as Gary Glitter used to say?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Daily briefings from FM must be the first time an SNP leader has been able to address the public without constant aggressive interruption.
Mostly questions from the press are becoming reasonable. Thinks this is because they would publicly demean themselves (further if that is possible), whilst the FM is so obviously playing a blinder.
I’m guessing the FM will be attracting a sizeable audience. The BBc will know this.
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On the BBC website there is a report about a front-line testing unit having been established in the last few days at the QEUH. Lisa Summers is the reporter and it is pretty factual. There is no mention of pigeon droppings, or of lack of ‘heavies’ to ‘encourage people to use the hand sanitisers provided. There is nothing in the article to advise the general public what a ‘deathtrap’ this building is!!!
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I think her viewing figures will be pretty high , especially since she is now on the national news at the time of the briefings ,people can now see and hear what she is saying so they can’t be fooled so easily .
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In the question and answer session several of the journalists had leading questions looking for negative headlines tomorrow.
The most egregious was from the Daily Record lady asking if the FM in light of her opening statement intended to cancel Christmas this year.
Ms Sturgeon said there was no such intention; ” all issues decisions would be made as appropriate at the appropriate time.” or words to that effect
Look for Record heading tomorrow: ” Nicola Sturgeon refuses to deny she will cancel Christmas “
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I notice you didn’t call the daily record lady a journalist, I wonder why?
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I was pleased to note that the FM adopted Alasdair’s terminology of *physical* distancing rather than social distancing in her briefing today. It makes sense when you want folk to be keeping social, but at a distance! Well done Alasdair; you have made an impact 😉
I’ve said before, you get some unlikely political reporters on BBC radio Scotland effectively praising the FM, before 7am of course. Still quite odd to hear. But it’s the repeated news that sticks in everyone’s mind isn’t it, and that certainly doesn’t convey approval for anything Scottish.
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I no longer watch the UK of E news because it is almost entirely about the UK of E health service and how it is being mismanaged by Westminster.
The sight of cretins like Williamson telling us how it is,or in reality isn’t,is enough to reach for the remote and switch to channel 9 for how it really is here in Scotland.
Our FM is brilliant and it is being noticed by people from south of the border.
Today,I noticed a few who would not normally grace our small country with their presence asking questions
of the Scottish government.
Bet they wish they had our government instead of the rabble of mendacious chancers they are lumbered with.
It must come as a cultural shock to be met with straight answers instead of the usual ducking,diving,dodging and weaving we have come to expect from HM government.
We are so lucky.
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Ms Sturgeon was interviewed at some length on CH4 news tonight. Such a contrast with Ministers from the UK Gov including the PM who decline repeated requests for interviews. I had the feeling Krishna Guru Murthy could not believe at times that she was actually there and answering questions.
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I am surprised and pleased to hear that because Channel 4 News has a default SNP/Scottish independence baaad stance. I will try and watch the interview.
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Ch4 news is often a completely Scottish free zone when it comes to news. On the few occasions it does cover anything remotely Scottish it can be pretty shallow and dismissive but sometimes it comes good. This might be one of them. I would have posted a link to the interview but it was not up on their web site when I posted before. I think John has posted a link in one of his later articles
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Sorry different topic but The National has a headline (paywall) about Trump asking for government bail-out of his Scottish golf courses… You couldn’t make it up!
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Just to say you have made a “Freudian slip” in your article “PM Sturgeon”😁
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No sorry misread something I’m talking mince sorry xxxx
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Is this the bit, Jeanette?
“Are there, perhaps, differences of opinion emerging within Reporting Scotland with some elements at least warming to this PM and her government?”
It tickled me 😄
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No sorry misread something I’m talking mince sorry xxxx
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Mince can be quite sustaining.
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Here in Scotland we are used to this from Sturgeon, does the talk but not the walk. So many Scots are now under the impression Sturgeon has the journalists and political commentators in her pocket. They’re frightened to report anything detrimental. BBC is worse than the rest. Brian Taylor of the BBC is always smirking if something goes slightly awry in England. He’s a SNP through and through. People don’t understand that Sturgeon is past master at deflection. Talking about lockdown being lifted detracts from her other failures in this pandemic. Everybody please listen up!
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Good one! Almost had me there. 🙂
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