Kingsmills

Perhaps you were not paying attention when she banned large gatherings well before the Westminster government and announced the closure of schools ahead of Westminster too. As far as I am aware, shadows tend to follow those they shadow nor the other way about.

Yes we are and the advice and information is very much more honestly and professionally given. The sincerity with which the FM gives her polished and professional daily delivery is there for all to see in stark contrast to the often stumbling, insincere and in the case of Priti Patel, shockingly dismissive performances of the UK ministers at their equivalent briefings. The 25 page document put out yesterday for consultion by the Scottish government on the framework for an exit strategy amplifies and exemplified that contrast sharply. Thank goodness these matters are devolved.

Tempting as it is, I am not sure that it's particularly easy or useful to directly compare rates of death in different countries. As well as different age demographics, density of population and ethnic diversity or otherwise country's have different systems of reporting and recording deaths and the cause thereof. For instance, to contrast England with Scotland, until a matter of days ago, the law in England was that doctors were not legally able to declare a cause of death on a death certificate unless they had personally examined the patient within the previous 28 days. With the spread of Covid19, increasing numbers were dying, particularly in care homes, without their GP visiting so that even if Covid19 was suspected, it could not be entered on the death certificate. Further, even when the doctor had visited within the last four weeks, the advice from coroners was that, unless the GP was sure that Covid was a cause or contributory factor it should be left off the death certificate. There is no such beast in Scotland as a coroner or broad equivalent so Scottish doctors have, since the outset, being using soley their professional judgement when certifying the cause of death. Accordingly, until very recently indeed there has probably, although by no means certainly, been greater under reporting of Covid related deaths outside of hospital in England compared to Scotland. In both cases it is probably fair to say that the administrations were too slow, when doing a great deal to safeguard the elderly and vulnerable in their own homes, to put adequate measures in place to fully safeguard the even more vulnerable in residential homes where infection control is an issue at the best of times. There will be time in the future to learn lessons and, if appropriate censure those who have been slow and negligent but, for now, the main focus has to be on proper and adequate equipment, testing capacity and facilities as close as possible to the people, especially in remote and sparsely populated areas like the Highlands and generally limiting the damage and planning a way forward. International cooperation, rather than finger pointing, will help greatly.

Well said DD. Most of us can't make the same contribution as those magnificent caring, medical, nursing professionals and others. However, none of us are helpless. We can all do our modest bit for our communities and the country as a whole by following the rules. This new way of life is not easy and many of us are missing many things and many people but it wont last forever. We can rebuild our finances, we can resume our social lives we can create a Phoenix football club if necessary but what we can never to is bring people back to life. Inevitably, there will be many many fatalities before this emergency is over but any additional deaths as a result of people not doing what is asked of them would be beyond tragedy. If you are not a key worker, stay home, stay safe and, most importantly, keep those who might be less fortunate and more vulnerable than you as safe as possible.

I had voted for the Prediction League to be declared over and the title decided on current placing but that vote seems to somehow have gone astray. I might now reconsider my vote but only if Gringo agrees to set up a committee to review the format for next season and beyond.

Plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose.

I tend to be in agreement with you but, on this occasion, only half agree. I quite like Partick!

Time goes on and every day our army of nurses, porters, cleaners, paramedics, carers(paid and unpaid), shop workers, bin men(and women) transport workers and a myriad others go to battle on our behalf and I will be out on my middle class, well heeled, doorstep this evening at eight o'clock applauding them all as usual. However, they deserve more than our appreciation, however sincere and heartfelt that may be, and certainly more than a stupid badge Mr Handcock. These wonderful people have been undervalued and underpaid for far far too long. If we learn one thing from this crisis it's that we need to recalibrate our society to be much fairer in the long term. I speak as a higher rate tax payer for most of my working life. People like me who are not wealthy but are comfortably off can afford to pay an extra 5% at least in income tax. Those with six figure salaries can surely pay an extra 10% on the element above £100,000. Are stockbrokers, hedge fund managers, company CEOs, top level athletes, lawyers, accountants, the idle rich living off investment income, large landowners, social 'influencers, successful musicians and actors, hospital consultants, politicians, bankers, company directors really so much more valuable to society than those protecting us now, feeding us, delivering our groceries and keeping your elderly mum as safe and comfortable as they possibly can ? There is enough money in the economy to go round if it is distributed more fairly. Higher income tax for those of us that can afford it, a modest increase in corporation tax for medium and large companies, tech companies operating in the ether being properly taxed, a 5% increase on VAT on luxury goods and a doubling of council tax on all second homes would be a very good start. The redirection of the billions of pounds spent every year on a nuclear deterrent that deters nobody and will never be used will also go a long way. Those of us 'affected' might have a little less cash but can still keep a secure roof over our head, food on our table and properly cloth our children. The redistributed wealth might just mean that the army of people I mentioned earlier might just be able to do the same.

There was, without doubt, an element of self interest in our vote but at least we were honest and transparent about what we intended to do and did just that unlike Dundee who were entirely underhand and self interested. On that basis, I am expecting that if there is to be reconstruction the top division will be extended to at least sixteen clubs rather than fourteen. Dundee did not act as they did to ensure that only their neighbours and ourselves benefited from any reconsideration. Personally, I see merit in an eighteen team top division on a national basis with north and south regional divisions below that each also of eighteen teams comprising the current lowest Championship clubs, the clubs in leagues one and two and the leading clubs from the Highland and Lowland Leagues. I would then have top teams promoted from each of the regional divisions with the bottom two teams in the top division being automatically relegated and the top three teams in each regional division playing off against one of the teams finishing fifteenth and sixteenth in the top league with the winners of each of the north and south play offs either being promoted to or remaining in the top tier. Lots of refreshing of the teams to prevent the staleness we endure now and much for a good number of the teams to play for for most of the season. I would retain the Challenge Cup for the teams out with the top tier but regionalised until the semi final stage.

I admire your efforts and enthusiasm Caley Tennis and wish you well but I am with IBM and Gringo on this. I am not on Facebook and have no interest in being so. This is my ICT online community and one that the recent crisis has prompted me to fully engage in again after a period of self imposed 'exclusion' . What unites us is far more important and valuable than any petty differences or grievances that may have preoccupied us in the past.

What an excellent example of full and honest communication from our CEO. Well done to the club and well done to him personally. A stark contrast to the way his predecessor conducted herself and in very stark contrast to the way that Dundee FC and the SPFL are conducting themselves just now. Very proud of our club showing this level of transparency just now when we are all so very much in the dark.

We should compete the season by each team nominating a member of their playing squad to play paper, scissors, stone with the nominated player of the other clubs we have yet to play. Best of five for league fixtures, best of seven for the remaining cup ties and best of nine for the all important promotion and relegation play offs.

When it comes to honesty, the SPFL don't have the finest of track records. However, The Rangers and the club of a similar name who preceded them have a far worse track record in that regard. On that basis, I am strongly inclined to give the football authorities the benefit of the doubt.

Seldom impressed by our football authorities but, to be fair, right now, we are all making it up as we go along. Let's wait until the decision is made before being too critical of it.

Once all of this is over we need to have a fundamental review of who we value and rely on most in society and start to reward them accordingly. If the Tory government suddenly forget the value and commitment of the hundreds of thousands of nurses, carers, cleaners, shop workers and others who have got us through this crisis then the electorate need to remind them at the first opportunity.

I agree that it was an error of judgement on the part of the First Minister but, in all fairness, it was probably the first time that she has put a foot wrong during the current crisis and, that apart, she has led in this emergency incredibly well. I would not wish to have her responsibility just now. I would hope that, even if in general you do not support the ruling administration, you are prepared to cut those struggling with these matters at the moment a little slack and serious errors will be made. I am certainly taking that view that the United Kingdom government of whom, to say the least, I am no fan. In that spirit, although I detest almost everything he and his cohorts stand for, I wish the Prime Minister well in his personal battle against the virus.

The Chief Medical Officer has resigned. Entirely the correct thing although I continue to believe that it would have been better if she had done so this morning.

The FM explained her reason for not sacking her and, although I disagree with her decision to retain her services albeit now in the background, I believe the FM's reasons. She was put in a very difficult position by someone who has let her, Dr Calderwood's own NHS colleagues and the whole country down. The only thing I would give her a little credit for is the fact that, unlike Charles, she has at least admitted that she was wrong and has made an excruciating and sustained public apology, she could have been pulled from public appearances before today's briefing so so some limited credit from me for fronting up to that.

I have been highly critical of Charles Windsor flouting the rules as though they didn't apply to him. It would be hypocritical of me not to level precisely the same criticism of our Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood, possibly more so. I had, until today, been hugely impressed by the part that she has played in this crisis. However, her 'human error' was so profound in the circumstances that an apology, no matter how sincere and how often repeated, will not do. Nicola Sturgeon has not put a foot wrong, unlike her counterpart south of the border, during this emergency until today but she has made an error in not dispensing with the services of Dr Calderwood. There must be someone else in the country who has the ability to step into the role. The very public face telling us, quite properly, hour after hour to stay at home to save lives must command respect and credibility. Dr Calderwood no longer has either. Sadly, despite the excellent work she had done to date, she needs to go and go now.

Apparently, the PFA in England have issued a statement and said that their members in the EPL on an average of £60,000 a week should not take a wage cut as that would be 'detrimental to the NHS' depriving the country of tax revenues. If they are too greedy and selfish to share some of the pain they should just be honest and say so rather than insulting our intelligence.

Prime time TV being set aside this evening for some ninety three year old national treasure to address the nation. I, for one, will be very interested to hear what David Attenborough has to say.

There is more chance of the central belt pundits they would employ to predict the results having us relegated than retaining our play off place by the end of the virtual season.

I rather think that that fantastic effort could have been opened without the virtual involvement of a selfish individual being beamed in remotely from somewhere he has no business being in the first place. Perhaps one of the many thousands who will be working there and risking their own life every single long shift could have been randomly selected.

We seem to be getting through this time of emergency without various members of the royal family cuting ribbons, unveiling plaques, banqueting with dignitaries, meeting local worthies, dressing up in seventeenth century garb and braid covered uniforms and pinning medals on puffed out chests or dubbing with ornamental swords. Once this is over, the United Kingdom will be faced with an enormous bill for the measures, quite rightly, taken to save lives and preserve jobs. Surely an obvious and very easy start would be to cut out the hundreds of millions of pounds spent, either directly or indirectly, on this outdated and worthless institution.

I am relieved and delighted to say that my neighbour was today transferred from ICU into an ordinary ward and ought to be home within a couple of days.