Nicola Sturgeon has blasted “utterly disgraceful” claims a Government adviser was given a row for backing the return of schools full time.
The First Minister criticised ex Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson for claiming Professor Devi Sridhar had received the “hairdryer treatment”.
In a dig at Davidson, Sturgeon suggested Sridhar had more integrity in her "wee finger" than the Tory MSP had " overall".
As part of the routemap out of lockdown, Sturgeon has said schools will reopen on August 11th, but only on a part-time basis.
Under the Government’s ‘blended’ learning plan, pupils would spend around half their time at school and the remainder in their own homes.
The plans have angered parents who worry the continuation of home schooling will stop them from going back to work, as well as damaging their children's education.
Professor Sridhar, a public health specialist at Edinburgh University, is a member of the Scottish Government’s covid-19 advisory group.
On Twitter last night, she wrote that if certain conditions are met schools need not go back on a part-time basis:
“If COVID-19 numbers can be brought low enough in Scotland by 11 August (under 20 confirmed cases) & with appropriate 'test and protect' policies, my personal view is that schools should re-open as normally as possible (kids back full-time & able to play/interact together).”
After the tweet gained traction, the Professor wrote this morning: “Nicola Sturgeon & I are completely aligned & I support her cautious approach to easing lockdown & re-opening schools. She has kids (& teachers, parents) best interest in mind so better to go slowly, track virus closely & make decisions in a reasoned & data-driven way.”
Her social media posting prompted Davidson to suggest she had been contacted by the Government: “Guess someone got the hairdryer treatment over the phone....”
The phrase "hairdryer treatment" is a reference to the way former Manchester United and Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson used to reprimand his players.
Sturgeon hit back: “Untrue...but more importantly, utterly disgraceful to suggest that a highly respected expert (who I suspect has more integrity in her wee finger than *some* have overall) would be susceptible to that.”
Asked if anyone in the Scottish Government called her after her tweet, Sridhar replied:
"No...I expressed my personal opinion- and the point is that if we can eliminate the virus, we all win."
Former First Minister Jack McConnell, a critic of the part-time schooling plan, welcomed Professor Sridhar’s intervention:
“Good to see @devisridhar come out in favour of safe full time school opening. It is surely time now for the Scottish Education Secretary and Councils to rethink, mobilise and deliver. Parents & pupils are ready.”
Tory MSP Jamie Greene said: “It’s quite telling that Professor Sridhar had the courage to come out with such ambitious views, despite being a close adviser to the SNP government.
“The First Minister says she wants to be led by the experts, now is the time to do just that and listen to her own close advisers.
“The return to full time schooling has to be the top priority of this SNP government moving forward, anything less is a complete dereliction of duty.”
