In a bad-tempered interview with Fiona Hyslop, Gordon Brewer, shouted and interrupted repeatedly, as she tried to repeat the published advice on returning to work which he had either not read, or more likely, was prepared to distort in an attempt to appear to have scored a point.
Jackson Carlaw was not interviewed to present his views on the matter.
Regardless of the potentially very serious consequences for workers whose employers take from this encouragement to call their workers back into situations which remain too dangerous for them, Brewer’s disingenuous confusion can only have weakened the official message, currently saving lives and, critically, overwhelmingly supported in recent polls by the wider population.
In the Ipsos MORI poll on 8-11 May, only 9% of Scots agreed with the statment: The government should prioritise the economic health of the country by having fewer restrictions on public events, workplaces and travel.
In the YouGov poll on 13-14 May only 14% agreed with the Boris plans.
Is BBC Scotland prepared to be seen to identify with the herd immunity theory underlying the behaviour of Dominic Cummings and responsible, according to Imperial College London, for 1.5 million extra cases after delayed lock-down by Boris Johnson?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Interview summary:
Brewer: Why have you not told all those small businesses when they can open?
Hyslop: They have been told they can open when safe processes are in place and public health is not at risk, as explained in the document.
(Me: There’s even an explanatory video he could watch if the words are too hard.)
Brewer: You haven’t told me when they will open?
Hyslop: Did you read the document?
Brewer: Yes.
Hyslop: If you had read it, you would have seen what I already told you.
Result:
Game, Set & Match: Hyslop – well done Fiona!!
LikeLiked by 6 people
Is he worse with women? Not so tough with big Mike?
LikeLike
Bully Brewer? Badger Brewer? His technique is about bullying and badgering.
I have not read the government guidance to SMEs on any of the phases. When I heard Fiona Hyslop say that companies opening in phase 1 would be outdoor based and must be able to show they could work safely, I began to get a clear picture. I also realised that if there was any uncertainty about opening there would be a means of resolving that.
Brewer had no evidence to show that there is confusion among the owners of businesses in Scotland about the ability to open in phase 1. As you say, all he has done is try to muddy the water while Ms Hsylop handed him his hat.
LikeLiked by 2 people
On today’s Marr, his interview with the hapless Grant Shapps re Cummings – calm, incisive, productive. even although Mr Shapps was defending the indefensible.
On today’s Sunday Politics Scotland, Gordon Brewer’s interview with the confident Fiona Hyslop – hectoring, shouty, confusing, read from a script.
Marr = journalism
Brewer = ??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marr= giving the Tories an easy ride, not journalism, more like bias and propaganda, he would not have been so calm had he been interviewing an SNP politician or even adviser had they boken lockdown rules, even once!
LikeLike
If he wanted lying and obfuscation he should have interviewed somebody from the not-SNP side of politics, not Fiona Hyslop.
Maybe some fairy godmother complete with magic wand would fill the bill for Gordon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You would think with what Scots pay in licence fees, the BBC could afford to hire a proper journalist.
Brewer types are ten-a-penny in a pub, usually just before shutting time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Don’t think the words “Proper Journalist” is part of the BBC’s job description.
Every interview by Brewery contains the phrase “I’m confused” several times
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brewer was apparently a follower of Trotsky.
I had a friend who joined one of the Communist split-offs in the ’60s. They taught him the art of rhetoric, polemics–how to debate and gain the confidence of your audiences. How logic and argument can change peoples minds, even when your case is weak.
One of the first rules was– lose your temper, and you lose the argument.
Brewer must have been in a different branch of Mao/Stalinist/Trots affiliates.
If you got two of them in a pub, three new parties were formed.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I was at Stirling with John Reid then CP.
LikeLike
Stirling, eh?
Home of the Red Brigades/Rote Armee Fraktion of Scotland.
(Though Baader- Meinhof Gang has more of a ring to it than Robertson-Reid Bad-Boys Club).
Giving our beloved Queen Betty (Boop) a big riddy!
I’m surprised they didn’t round you all up, and send you jolly well orf to Van Dieman’s Land! Or at least round you all up, and cut your hair!
LikeLiked by 2 people
gavinochiltree – I would never kick a wee dug, even the Queen’s corgis.
LikeLike