MICHELLE Ballantyne, the South of Scotland list MSP, caused controversy earlier this week after sharing her thoughts on the Covid-19 pandemic on Facebook.
Replying to a Facebook user, she stated: “I share your feelings, the damage being done is irreconcilable with the impact of the virus. Parliament handed a mandate to the Government to make decisions without consultation (I was guilty back then of following the whip, I have since resigned to vote as I believe fit).
“There doesn’t appear to be any balanced analysis. The average age of death with Covid (I’m told that just having a positive test is enough to make someone a Covid death) is around 83 and yet we are willing to sacrifice the lives of our young people, it makes no sense.
“I wish I could offer you more hope but there seems to be a collective madness in politics at the moment that sets anything other than Covid deaths aside as sad but necessary collateral damage.”
Making political capital out of the pandemic is surely a no-no at this time, and for Ballantyne to seriously suggest “collective madness in politics” is, we respectfully suggest, quite insane.
Last month, we told you of the MSP’s “annual report” to her constituents ... which was basically a flier with 12 photographs of the MSP over four A4 pages.
READ MORE: Scottish Tories boast of 'extra' £375m for Scotland, but it doesn't exist
Ballantyne also forgot to tell her readers that having stood as a Conservative, she had failed to win the leadership of the Scottish Tories last year and then resigned from the party in November.
The report’s second sentence said: “Much of 2020 has been overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing regulations. In response to the crisis I was pleased to work with Councillor Euan Jardine (above) to set up the Gala CRG along with a team of dedicated volunteers. We delivered food and prescriptions to people who were shielding and gave support and advice to those struggling during lockdown.”
It is, of course, perfectly acceptable to promote one’s own contribution to the national effort against the virus, isn’t it?
Her website still carries “news” items – i.e, PR puffs, describing her as “Michelle Ballantyne, Conservative MSP for the South Scotland Region” (sic). The website also has a full page of NHS-sourced advice on coronavirus. What a responsible contrast to her rants earlier this week.
Also according to the website: “At the Holyrood election in May 2021, Michelle will be running to become the constituency MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.”
Incumbent MSP Christine Grahame isn’t panicking.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel