Sturgeon’s sneers at the Scottish press

Nationalism, grievance politics and a refusal to accept results which don’t go your way are not the only things Nicola Sturgeon has in common with Donald Trump. For Scotland’s First Minister has launched something of a war on the press in recent weeks, repeatedly rubbishing reporters and outlets which dare to question her handling of Covid. 

Unfortunately for Sturgeon, this crusade against supposed ‘fake news’ has worked about as well as the SNP’s handling of education, health and criminal justice over the past 14 years. For her hapless Holyrood government has been forced into no less than three U-turns in five days – despite Sturgeon ridiculing journalists who point out the error of her ways, something noted by Sun hack Chris Musson.

On 17 December the First Minister was asked by Michael Blackley of the Scottish Daily Mail about whether she would consider cutting the time for those in self-isolation. Her response was to mock Blackley’s employer and remark sarcastically that ‘Yeah, that would really help because that would spread infection even further.’