Political Insider – Friday 6th March 2020
Yesterday, the UK Parliament Health Committee questioned Professor Chris Whitty, the UK’s chief medical adviser on the number one talking point this week: Coronavirus. The UK on Thursday saw its biggest day-on-day increase in cases, bringing the total number to 87. Almost all the 36 new patients had recently travelled to affected countries or been infected by others who had done so, Chris Whitty said. He also told MPs the delay phase of the response to the coronavirus outbreak was aimed at pushing back the peak of the epidemic. That could move the peak of cases away from the “winter pressures on the NHS in all four nations of the UK”, he said.
On Thursday, three more patients tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland. Chief Medical Officer for Scotland Dr Catherine Calderwood has confirmed the new cases of COVID-19, bring the total number of cases to six. They are from the Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Grampian areas. All three new cases are contacts of known cases. Holyrood business was changed to allow Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman MSP a chance to update MPS on Scottish plans.
After three long years negotiating the UK’s exit from the EU, on Monday this week talks finally began between the two sides. David Frost, the UK’s chief negotiator, arrived in Brussels yesterday afternoon, armed with 100 advisers and civil servants, preparing to spread themselves across 10 working groups, focusing on everything from fishing to financial services to truck drivers’ cross-border access. Negotiations are to take place once every two or three weeks from now until the summer at least, alternating between Brussels and London – with the prime minister insisting a deal must be struck by the year’s end.
The Scottish Government’s budget was passed, with Finance Secretary Kate Forbes again getting help from the Greens on Thursday. The Scottish Government’s income tax plans, which remain largely unchanged from last year, were passed by MSPs on Wednesday. The plans will see income tax rates in Scotland stay the same, although the threshold where the upper rates kick in will be frozen. Extra funding will also go towards health, education and tackling the “climate emergency”. And the government will set up a free bus travel scheme for under-19s by January of next year.
This week, it was announced that several leading figures in the Scottish National Party will step down as MSPs. Michael Russell, who represents Argyll and Bute, will not stand in the Holyrood election next year. Mr Russell, who will be 67 in August, said it may be time for someone younger to represent the constituency. Stewart Stevenson, who represents Banffshire and Buchan Coast for the SNP, will also leave parliament at the next election, as will James Dornan, Richard Lyle – and almost certainly Derek Mackay.
And finally …we welcomed guests to our first Perceptive Directors’ Club of the Year last night at project manager, Turner & Townsend’s new office in Glasgow. Andy Outram and Heather Gemmell of Turner & Townsend and Nigel Munro of developer, HBD shared the construction challenges and solutions over the seven years of creating The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) on this 150 acre site. Perceptive’s Julie Moulsdale and Devin Scobie shared the communications challenges and solutions in creating this award-winning £333 million venue with a 15,000 capacity arena, two hotels and an energy centre.
