A SCOTTISH Tory MSP has been widely mocked after attacking the SNP for the “lowest ever” Covid testing rate in schools - more than a week after they broke up for the summer holidays.
Maurice Golden, who was elected to represent the Tories in Holyrood on the North East Scotland list, made the gaffe on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
Sharing a pre-prepared image branded with his party logo saying Covid testing in schools is the “lowest ever”, the Scottish Tory wrote: “Where is the outcry from SNP MPs and MSPs?
“Why aren’t they putting every ounce of pressure they can on their party to get this fixed?”
The post was retweeted by the Scottish Young Conservatives and the official Scottish Conservative account. It was also "liked" by Scottish Tory councillor Thomas Kerr, Golden's fellow Tory MSP Miles Briggs, and Tory MP Andrew Bowie.
Many on the social media platform were quick to answer the Tory’s questions.
“The Scottish schools are closed for the summer, surely you must know this?” one user asked.
“Maurice mate, I live in England and I know your schools have broken up for the summer. Why don’t you?” a second wrote.
The majority of local authority areas across Scotland saw their schools break up for the summer on June 25. A few ended their term a day or two earlier, and Argyll and Bute broke up on Wednesday June 30, the latest in the country.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson wants to axe Holyrood, says Dominic Cummings
Scottish Government figures on the number of students absent for Covid-related reasons end on June 25.
Data on the number of students in universities and colleges who tested positive for Covid-19 also ends on June 25.
Golden’s glaring mistake was mocked by many on social media.
A Graeme McDonald wrote: “This could possibly be the most comprehensive self-own in Twitter history.”
“Anybody else noticed a lack of gritters on the roads these last few months? Where is the outcry from SNP MPs and MSPs?” another quipped.
Wait till you see the truancy figures for last week!
— Colin McCredie (@colinmccredie) July 5, 2021
Scots actor Colin McCredie joked: “Wait till you see the truancy figures for last week!”
One Donny Reila wrote: “I went to my local GP at midnight and I was made to wait outside for a scandalous 9.5 hours before they opened the doors.
“Like all good Tory chumps I kept my spirits up by singing…” They then shared a link to the Alice Cooper song School’s Out.
I went to my local GP at midnight and I was made to wait outside for a scandalous 9.5 hours before they opened the doors. Like all good Tory chumps I kept my spirits up by singing....https://t.co/393k6AuCJc
— Donny Reila (@DonnyReila) July 5, 2021
Referring to the “lowest ever” rate of Covid testing in schools, one Tony Begley wrote: “I predict a significant rise in mid August when schools return.”
Another quipped: “Yo, m8, did you get confused when nobody else turned up at school for several weeks?”
Here are a few more of the best replies:
Golden outside the local school right now 😳 pic.twitter.com/PMhfjymzx3
— James Sellar (@sellar_james) July 5, 2021
Attendance has also plummeted to 0% over the last two weeks but to their credit they have completely eradicated bullying in school.
— Hector von Colossus (@ItsDrColossus) July 5, 2021
Seems to think the weans take the English & Welsh holidays 🤦🏻…. https://t.co/aggwIrUwZr
— Martin Docherty-Hughes 🏴🏳️🌈 (@MartinJDocherty) July 5, 2021
He’s right, there hasn’t been any tests done in my school since we went on holiday over a week ago. https://t.co/UJqsgevKCJ
— RossP (@RossP_ICT) July 5, 2021
This...this is satire, right? Because the alternative is that this Tory MSP is a stone-cold idiot, and that can't be right, surely? https://t.co/wyoK3bWC8r
— Allan Kennedy (@Allan_D_Kennedy) July 5, 2021
Lol how embarrassing. How to prove how our of touch with the area you're meant to represent you are. Amazing how kids not being in school equals less testing, wow. https://t.co/e2BYEK4PdZ
— Gemma Surrage (@Ravendite4) July 5, 2021
This dude is an actual sitting MSP and does not know why testing of schools maybe is at its lowest atm. Beyond parody when you outdo Annie Wells and Murdo F with your stupidity. https://t.co/0VXgcCeh6H
— Klosencounter2 (@cannonfodd3r) July 5, 2021
Here's the Tories trying to weaponise your kids by complaining about a lack of in-school testing during the summer holidays. https://t.co/F2JqbhrHMp
— James McEnaney (@MrMcEnaney) July 5, 2021
That moment when the public realise you're wearing the twitter equivalent of an earpiece feeding you 'attack' lines from outside Scotland...... https://t.co/l7dkg2jONf
— Jamie McIntyre (@_JamieMcIntyre) July 5, 2021
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