Scottish independence: How Scotland’s state as Covid capital will impact independence bid

Scottish independence 'would be great for England' says host

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Scotland has been called the Covid Capital of Europe as six Scottish health boards are in the top 10 worst-hit regions in Europe for Covid infections according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). With Scotland struggling to fight this disease what does this mean for the Scottish independence bid?

Throughout the pandemic, Scotland has been exercising its devolved powers to enforce differing restrictions on its citizens.

At first, Westminster tried to maintain a unified UK-wide response to the virus, with pandemic restrictions being that same throughout England and the devolved nations.

But, this approach soon failed after Nicola Sturgeon along with other First Ministers, Mark Drakeford and Arlene Foster rejected Boris Johnson’s “stay alert” slogan.

Whilst England set to lift all restrictions on July 19, Scotland is struggling to keep the number of Covid cases down being blasted as the Covid Capital of Europe.

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Several areas of Scotland have been hit with high numbers of those infected with the virus recently.

NHS Tayside tops the WHO’s worst-hit regions list with a huge number of cases, with a rate of 1,146 cases per 100,000 people.

Other parts of Scotland such as Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Fife, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire and Arran health boards are also in the WHO’s top 10.

But, will Sturgeon’s apparent failure to keep Covid cases down impact an independence bid?

GB News presenter Dan Wootton said Ms Sturgeon has tried to further the SNP’s independence cause during some stages of the Covid crisis.

Mr Wootton added Scotland is now the “Covid capital of Europe”, he said that the first minister should learn from the UK Government approach to the pandemic.

He said: “At every stage of this unprecedented pandemic, the Scottish First Minister has attempted to blame others when the going gets tough.

“Whoever could forget her ludicrous claims last summer that her SNP administration came close to wiping out Covid altogether…until pesky English visitors like me brought the disease back in.

“She’s attempted to invent imaginary borders between Scotland and England to sow division and further her independence cause.”

Mr Wootton added: “Well, it’s time for that fact check because today Scotland is the Covid capital of Europe and the media is ignoring the story because Sturgeon finally has no one else to blame.”

Scotland’s national clinical director, Jason Leitch tried to account for the surge in cases in Scotland telling BBC Good Morning Scotland: “Scotland has had some of the highest numbers across the UK and Europe.

“A couple of reasons for ours – seeded in Delta is the fundamental reason, the virus is the reason.

“It’s got seeded into our biggest, dense city in Glasgow and we’ve got less natural immunity because we haven’t been at the top of this league table throughout the pandemic.

“It’s not a league table you want to top, and I want to get us off there as quick as we possibly can.”

Last week, Scotland broke the record for its highest number of new Covid cases in a day for three days.

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