Home   News   Article

Route map out of lockdown "falls short" of public expectation, says Moray MP Douglas Ross


By Jonathan Clark

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

MORAY'S Conservative MP Douglas Ross has said the SNP Government’s route map out of lockdown “falls short” of public expectations.

Moray MP Douglas Ross .Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Moray MP Douglas Ross .Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon detailed the lockdown exit plan for Scotland in Holyrood today, giving provisional dates for some reopenings.

Ms Sturgeon announced that schools are expected to be fully reopened by April 5, at the same time it is hoped the 'stay at home' message can be lifted.

By April 26, the economy will begin to reopen and Scotland will return to the tier system seen before Christmas.

A full plan for exiting lockdown will be published in mid-March.

Douglas Ross is concerned that no information was provided on what will happen after April 26, when Scotland moves back to the tier system.

He said: “The announcement today was billed as providing a route map out of lockdown in Scotland but the First Minister’s statement falls short of what the public had a right to expect.

“We now have to wait until mid-March to actually see a full plan from the Scottish Government.

“And aside from an indication that restrictions would start to be eased from April 26, we don’t know what is going to happen beyond that point.

“There was nothing on when NHS services would get back up to speed, when weddings would resume or when people could hug their loved ones.

“Here in Moray, where infection rates are thankfully very low, people and businesses will have been hoping for a bit more information.

“I think everyone understands that dates may be subject to change, but people need a bit of hope after 11 months of restrictions on their day-to-day lives.

“There is no doubt that we need to remain vigilant to this virus, but the vaccine gives us all hope that end is in sight.

"Sadly, the Scottish Government have failed to explain how the current restrictions will be eased so we can return to a form of normality.”


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More