A Double Standard Exposed: The Hypocrisy of British Officials in the Scottish Covid Scandal

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The recent scandal involving Scotland's former chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, has sparked a fierce reaction, revealing an unsettling double standard in British officialdom. The incident raises a vital question that echoes throughout the United Kingdom: is there one set of rules for those who draft laws and another for those expected to follow them? The fallout from Calderwood's actions reflects a disturbing divide, suggesting a “do as I say, not as I do” mentality among some of the country’s most respected public officials.

 

 

Calderwood found herself under fire for violating lockdown regulations during the early days of the pandemic in April 2020. Her offense? Making a 40-mile round trip from Edinburgh to her holiday home in Fife—a clear breach of rules she had helped to establish. As Scotland’s chief medical officer, she was instrumental in promoting the stay-at-home orders intended to curb the spread of Covid-19. Yet, despite the explicit guidelines, Calderwood appeared to believe she hadn’t done anything wrong by making the journey.

 

Following a public outcry and a police warning, Calderwood ultimately resigned. Her close ties to Scotland’s first minister at the time, Nicola Sturgeon, were not enough to shield her from the consequences of her actions. However, Calderwood’s resignation seemed to strike a nerve among her colleagues across the UK. In an outpouring of sympathy, numerous high-ranking officials publicly expressed their disappointment and offered her unwavering support. This group included some of the country’s most respected figures, such as Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer; Sir Frank Atherton, his counterpart in Wales; and Sir Michael McBride, chief medical officer for Northern Ireland.

 

These officials reportedly sent a series of supportive messages encouraging Calderwood to “ignore” the media reports, stand firm, and remain in her post despite the backlash. “Ride it out,” they advised, rallying around her and decrying the newspaper that exposed her actions. But the media’s role was not one of sensationalism; it was one of accountability. The newspaper was fulfilling its duty to hold those in power to the same standards imposed upon the public.

 

For such eminent medical figures, empathizing with a colleague’s situation is natural. After all, they had been working under immense pressure, handling the unprecedented crisis of Covid-19, which left them grappling with life-and-death decisions daily. Their solidarity—this “band of brothers and sisters” forged by the shared trauma of fighting a global pandemic—is understandable. The solidarity that emerged from these shared experiences likely strengthened bonds and fostered an “us versus them” mentality against critics. But should they not have held themselves to a higher standard?

 

As public servants at the heart of crisis management, these officials should have understood the importance of maintaining public trust. To suggest that a prominent figure should “ride out” a public scandal for violating the very restrictions they championed undermines their credibility. When officials encourage each other to disregard criticisms rather than confronting their mistakes, they risk eroding the confidence that the public places in them.

 

Catherine Calderwood’s resignation may seem a small blemish on an otherwise impressive career in public health, but the incident shines a light on the dangers of complacency within leadership circles. Ideally, those responsible for crafting and enforcing public policy should demonstrate exemplary behavior, or as the saying goes, they should be “above suspicion.” In their efforts to protect their own, British officials risked compromising the principles that the public relies on, ultimately fueling a perception that rules don’t apply equally to all. Perhaps this episode serves as a reminder that trust, once lost, is challenging to regain—and that accountability, even among the highest ranks, is a principle that must be upheld without exception.

 

Based on a report by the Daily Telegraph 2024-10-30

 

 

 

[Theforgotten1]

Sack them all , useless self serving crap 

[Theforgotten1]

People couldn’t go for cancer checkups because these scumbags made restrictions and then they brake their own rules but that didn’t matter 

[jippytum]

The Scotish lawmakers join the long list of officials accused of double standards during Covid.

Non more so than Boris Johnson the UK prime minister exposed as a liar over covid.

His documented lies and deceit  forced his welcome removal from UK government. 

[Surasak]

1 hour ago, jippytum said:

The Scotish lawmakers join the long list of officials accused of double standards during Covid.

Non more so than Boris Johnson the UK prime minister exposed as a liar over covid.

His documented lies and deceit  forced his welcome removal from UK government. 

And those documents lies came from where?

I suspect you are referring to the report presented by Sue Gray? Nine bob notes come to mind when that woman's name is uttered. 

[Watawattana]

3 hours ago, Surasak said:

And those documents lies came from where?

I suspect you are referring to the report presented by Sue Gray? Nine bob notes come to mind when that woman's name is uttered. 

There were so many, I don't know where to start.  If Sue Gray's Report was a pack of lies then I'm sure the UK media would have said so.  They might have done and I may have missed it, but maybe you know better.  I'm sure you can post some links to that.

 

I'm also not so blinkered that I stop at Sue Gray's Report.  Were you alive when Brexit was happening?  Remember the promise on a side of a bus about NHS spending?  There's a bit more on this link.  https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/61163/boris-johnson-dishonesty-brexit-privileges-committee-partygate 

 

There's shed loads more, but I'm not wasting any more time on this cheating liar.

 

Of course, he's not the only cheating liar in politics, so perhaps I'm a bit unfair to single him out.  But he is close to being at the pinnacle of liars and cheaters in world politics that I'm aware of, and has been well exposed across a wide range of media.  Very many times.