IT’S not often that you can say a LibDem has come to the defence of the Scottish Government, but that’s exactly what happened this morning on BBC Radio Scotland.
The show broadcast a segment about the decision to extend lockdown restrictions in Aberdeen for another week.
The First Minister said while the situation in the city is "undoubtedly improving" she is not "in a position to say that this outbreak is over or completely under control".
The decision to keep restrictions in place has angered the city council, which insisted the situation is under control.
Representatives from the Labour-Tory coalition council have warned that 5000 jobs could be at risk if the restrictions continue.
READ MORE: First Minister says Aberdeen outbreak is not yet under control
Despite the condemnation, none of those councillors were available to speak to Good Morning Scotland, who instead contacted LibDem Ian Yuill.
He rejected any suggestions put forward by host Gary Robertson that the lockdown was the wrong move.
The councillor explained: “I want to see the lockdown ended as soon as possible. It can’t come a day too soon. But that won’t happen because of anything Labour or Conservative councillors say or do, or anything I say or do. It will happen when the evidence and the analysis of that evidence shows, on a balance of judgement, that it is safe to do so.
“The chief medical officer and his colleagues have come to the view that it’s not. And I trust them to make a decision much more than I would ever trust Aberdeen’s Labour and Conservative leaders.”
READ MORE: Radio stations apologise after FM's briefing is drowned out by foul-mouthed rant
He pointed out that the infection rate in Aberdeen is three times higher than in other parts of Scotland.
The LibDem then condemned Tory and Labour representatives for causing “confusion and uncertainty”.
He added: “That helps no-one. The way to get our local hospitality sector re-opened and re-opened as soon as possible is to stick to the lockdown rules, get a clear message out to the people in Aberdeen and businesses in Aberdeen about sticking to those rules so we suppress the infection rate in our city and we can then safely re-open businesses and keep them open. Labour and Conservative councillors are putting that at risk.”
Listen to the full exchange here.
Heres the interview with Lib Dem Councilor Ian Yule this morning that BBC GMS expected to go a different way. Nice to hear an elected official not attacking the policy but instead attacking the attackers of the policy. Poor Gary tried his hardest to steer him on course. Nope :) pic.twitter.com/O2XRCPSgum
— 🤖🏴Not A May McBot🏴🤖 (@NotAMayBot) August 20, 2020
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