A row has broken out over whether Scotland’s national clinical director suggested large events could still be restricted in three months.
Jason Leitch told the BBC yesterday that a “whole-city party” in Edinburgh in April might be a “little bit too early”.
However, after a backlash on Twitter Leitch said he was dismissing calls for bringing Hogmanay in Edinburgh forward eight months.
Nicola Sturgeon ’s Government responded to the spread of Omicron before Christmas by capping large events like football to 500 people for three weeks.
It also led to the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay party.
Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Nick Stewart, managing director of Sneaky Pete’s nightclub in Edinburgh, had floated the idea of rescheduling the city’s cancelled Hogmanay street party for April.
Leitch, who is one of the Scottish Government's top covid advisers, responded by saying a “whole-city party” in April might be too early, adding: “I like an Edinburgh night out, like any other person in Scotland. I certainly look forward to next year’s Hogmanay, but whether we could bring that forward to April or not, I think the jury is somewhat out.”
One Twitter user, @lawrencebroadie, criticised Leitch: "Enough. Every time you speak you are affecting the mental health of people (me and lots of others). Stop breaking people’s hearts and start fixing the NHS."
Leitch later took to the same social media platform to dispute a headline in the Times newspaper on his comments: “Please listen to the interview on Radio 4 at 1.10 today and hear what I ACTUALLY said, then maybe be kinder. I was asked if I thought Edinburgh could have Hogmanay in April!!!!”
Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw wrote: “This cannot be allowed to happen.
“Businesses and fans were promised a 3 week breaker. ScotGov cannot extend in perpetuity when the evidence suggests the opposite.”
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