All his life Boris Johnson has been a chancer and a gambler.
Now, for the sake of appeasing around 100 Tory backbenchers who are fundamentally opposed to Covid restrictions, he is doing away with the rules altogether in England.
It certainly looks like we are now over the worst of the crisis – but it is by no means a thing of the past. Johnson, however, wants to give the impression he has achieved some kind of victory.
The inconvenience of over 1000 a week in the UK dying from the virus and the symbolism of the 95-year-old monarch self-isolating does not deter him.
He appears to have a paid little heed to anyone other than his own instinct for political survival.
The consequence of ending free testing and winding down the surveillance of the virus in England has direct implications for Scotland – but the PM doesn’t seem to give a stuff about that.
If the Scottish Government, which decides on health policy in Scotland, wants to continue with testing and tracking the spread of the virus it must pay for it out of its own budget.
These strong-arm tactics, with Whitehall financial decisions effectively setting devolved policy, have been evident throughout the pandemic whether it is on international travel rules or the timing of lockdowns.
If devolution is to be seen to work then the issue has to be addressed when the pandemic is over.
Right now, Scotland and the other devolved nations are being forced into taking Johnson’s gamble whether they want to or not.
Action... finally
THE issue of “warehousing” – where learning disabled people are kept in hospital for years for want of a decent care package – is a blight on our reputation as a caring nation.
Many people have spent years stuck miles away from their loved ones when they would be far happier at home.
After the Record highlighted a campaign by relatives aimed at ending this crisis, the Scottish Government has taken notice. But it should never have been allowed to happen in the first place.
People with learning disabilities are entitled to the same basic human rights as everyone else.
This shameful practice has been going on for years but finally a government figure, mental health minister Kevin Stewart, is listening and has pledged to treat their complaints seriously.
He promises by 2024 fewer people will be treated this way. We hope that is just a starting point – as it should not happen to anybody.
This is not a political issue, it is one of decency and compassion.
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