An extra £500 for our health heroes is no substitute for a decent pay rise, but it should be taken on its merits

pAt the height of the pandemic, we stood on our doorsteps each Thursday and applauded a data-content-type=section-topic data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/nhs-scotlandNHS workers/a and social care staff./p pVery early on in this a data-content-type=section-topic data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/coronaviruscrisis/a, we recognised those men and women who were on the front line every day, for every one of us./p pIt was a moving expression of our appreciation for their efforts./p img src=https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article23094974.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JS214384068.jpg title=NHS staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital participate in the final Clap for Carers and key workers during lockdown data-portal-copyright=Getty/ p/ p/ pBut rounds of applause can#x2019;t be taken to the supermarket or used to buy Christmas presents./p pThe a data-content-type=section-topic data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/nicola-sturgeonFirst Minister#x2019;s/a announcement of a one-off payment of #xA3;500 for NHS and social care workers is a well-earned gesture of gratitude from the rest of the country./p pIt has been a horrendous year and no one knows that more than those health professionals who have dealt with so much death and suffering on our behalf./p pWho could possibly grudge them a single penny?/p pNicola Sturgeon urged the UK Government not to tax the payment./p pIn these remarkable times that is not too much to ask./p pThe relatively small amounts will make no difference to the Exchequer but would give a few more pounds to those dedicated workers./p pAn extra #xA3;500 for our health heroes is no substitute for a decent pay rise, but it should be taken on its merits./p pIt is a small and deserved thank you from a grateful nation./p h2Fans lost the plot/h2 pThe small minority of fans who staged a protest against Neil Lennon outside a href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/celtic-fc data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link data-content-type=section-topicCeltic Park/a did themselves, their club and the wider football family no favours./p img src=https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article23094979.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JS224047703.jpg title=Ugly scenes took place outside Celtic Park on Sunday data-portal-copyright=Mark Runnacles/Getty Images/ p/ pOur emergency services have done so much to keep us safe in the past eight months and deserve nothing but gratitude./p pBut on Sunday night police officers were injured because a group of supporters couldn#x2019;t deal with their team#x2019;s bad run of form./p pAs well as embarrassing themselves, they damaged the case for all fans being allowed to return to grounds./p pIt seems all they really achieved was to strengthen the resolve of Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond, who is so angered by their behaviour he is standing by the club#x2019;s under fire coach, at least for the time being./p h2Film faux pas/h2 pKenny Boyle let slip he has never seen Gregory#x2019;s Girl./p pBut he couldn#x2019;t tell his Lost at Christmas co-star Clare Grogan, who played Susan in the 1981 classic movie./p pSorry, Kenny but your #x201C;embarrassing secret#x201D; is out now./p