UNIONISTS will use every opportunity to defend their precious union so it wasn't surprising that they doubted the latest attack on Scotland.
The National revealed a UK Government body told a major firm supplying vital personal and protective equipment to frontline workers not to sell the kit to care homes in Scotland and Wales.
Unionists weren't happy with the revelation, with many mentioning that Scotland’s national clinical director Jason Leitch claimed it was “rubbish” but he has now apologised.
READ MORE: Jason Leitch apologises for branding PPE scandal 'rubbish'
The most ridiculous responses are below ...
1. Political commentator John Rentoul
In a now-deleted tweet the journalist said: "Can’t believe St Nicola would have exploited that untrue ‘English nicked our PPE’ story for political advantage.”
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Journalist apologises to Nicola Sturgeon over PPE
He then he back-tracked, accepting there was evidence suppliers had been making the claims.
He wrote: “I have deleted a tweet from yesterday which said the claim that England denied Scotland PPE was untrue. After the Scottish govt’s clinical director said it was ‘rubbish’, some evidence emerged that suppliers were saying it.
“NHS England and PHE have denied instructing suppliers and Sturgeon has accepted those assurances, but I was wrong to accuse her of seeking political advantage, for which I apologise.”
I have deleted a tweet from yesterday which said the claim that England denied Scotland PPE was untrue. After the Scottish govt’s clinical director said it was “rubbish”, some evidence emerged that suppliers were saying it
— John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) April 15, 2020
2. Andrew Neil
The broadcaster urged The National to apologise for the story after it was revealed that Scotland’s national clinical director Jason Leitch claimed it was “rubbish”.
Can The National now apologise for this front page? Tip: don’t hold your breath. https://t.co/3a79b6mIcW
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) April 14, 2020
But Neil got his facts wrong as before he tweeted it was revealed by the FM that Leitch was not fully appraised on the issue when he gave the interview.
READ MORE: Andrew Neil attacks The National but gets his facts all wrong
3.Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne
🚨FAKE NEWS ALERT🚨
— Michelle Ballantyne MSP (@MBallantyneMSP) April 14, 2020
The Scottish Government's own clinical director dismissed these claims as "rubbish" but of course the National would ignore that.
Rather than spreading falsehoods let's focus on how to get more PPE kit to front-line stuff who are urgently require it. https://t.co/NMr5qfOT2y
4.
Nothing a like a bit of triggering of the nationalist inferiority complex and shoulder chip to pass the time during the lockdown.
— Zubir Ahmed (@zubirahmed) April 14, 2020
5. Buzzfeed's political editor Alex Wickham
The journalist tweeted that Westminster is "furious" with the SNP over "false" PPE reports.
Ministers furious with the SNP about the false reports from Scotland about PPE
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) April 14, 2020
Source: "The SNP are playing politics in the middle of a pandemic. They ignored their own clinicians and pushed a false narrative that had been debunked by their own national clinical director."
But Health Secretary Jeane Freeman pointed out that it is the Scottish Government involved in the issue, not the SNP.
So Alex 2 things. 1. It is the Scottish Government that is engaged in this, not a political party. 2. We are responding to legitimate concerns by a responsible organisation representing majority of care homes in Scotland. I call that doing my job. https://t.co/0Ew1YdEG12
— Jeane Freeman (@JeaneF1MSP) April 15, 2020
6. Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard
This is dangerous, this is misleading, and, in the words of Scotland's Clinical Director,@jasonleitch , this is "rubbish". pic.twitter.com/L2FEOZgQKo
— Richard Leonard (@LabourRichard) April 14, 2020
7. Tory MSP Murdo Fraser
It’s astonishing that @ScotNational are splashing on a story which @JeaneF1MSP admitted this afternoon was a lot of nonsense. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/97DFUw9cu4
— Murdo Fraser (@murdo_fraser) April 14, 2020
8. UK Defence Journal
Earlier today the Scottish health secretary tweeted this, that begs the question as to why you're running that headline tomorrow? It's seems as if it's designed to stoke tensions. https://t.co/fU8ZFKMOyu
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) April 14, 2020
This, of course, turned out to be absolutely and entirely untrue. https://t.co/lfLjI0nppe
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) April 14, 2020
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