Scottish government Covid briefings on the BBC

I am amazed that the Scottish FM's daily briefings have been dropped by the BBC. It seems to me to be a political move. If I were Scottish I'd be very annoyed.

I think they've probably been very valuable (and I'm sure that they will be continued by another media company). Sturgeon has been very clear in her explanations and it's good that the information has been available in an accessible format.

I don't think that resuming daily Westminster briefings would be particularly useful. We know that a large part of the briefings were lies or evasions and that the health experts were only tolerated if they toed the tory line in what they said. Any hint of dissent and they were never seen again...

It IS political "Lord" Foulkes and Jackie Baillie apparently are taking the credit for having the briefings removed.Sadly this will leave a lot of the elderly and deaf without an update .I had several friends msg me last night saying their parents in their 80's and 90's were livid as they depended on getting SCOTTISH updates from Ms Sturgeon.

.WM briefings giving UK figures bear no resemblance to Scottish figures .When we had no deaths for 6 weeks we were still being included in UK deaths of over 1000 a week .I'm not annoyedMaizieD I'm fuming .
This will be the WM effort to keep the elderly in the dark then when the election comes round in May they'll spread the same lies they did last time to try to get the votes they would have lost IF people had been given facts.Labour went round care homes and clubs for the elderly and told folk they would LOSE their pensions if Scotland gained Independence and a lot of other dirty tricks beside .No wonder they're dead in Scotland

I'm with you on this Paddyanne. As a shielder, I found them very helpful and I am not an SNP supporter.

I think part of the problem is that when you compare Boris' performance at the briefings with that of Nicola S, Boris looks like a bumbling fool, who never really addresses any questions put to him.

I also have to say I really like the no nonsense approach of Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director of Healthcare Quality and Strategy. No faffing about, just straight to the point.

I was very impressed with Nicola Steedman today as well.

Oh yes! She managed to address many of the queries about the app. Very well prepared.

Surely this is a BBC decision? However, as the content can be political, it may be that the Beeb has to give equal airtime to all countries ( devolved) as well as England, in political matters.

I don’t think daily briefings are necessary for any country, but once a fortnight would be good IMHO.
The facts and figures are easily accessible online.

Why are they not being broadcast on BBC Scotland?
Surely (most) people in Scotland would still want updates?

The Welsh government stopped giving daily briefings a while ago but I wonder if they need to be resumed too.

Oh yes, it's a BBC decision, as NS said herself at the briefing today. She's far too savvy to get caught up in any arguments about that.

But for the 576th time, (approximately), the content is not political. Whoever was in charge, I would want them on the national broadcaster telling me what the latest situation is. Especially as the virus seems to be taking off again. I wish we could have equally good communication from WM.

Not sure what the situation is in Wales, maybe someone else here knows?

Cross post, Callistemon!

lemon I see your posts are scraping the bottom of the barrel again

There is an increase in cases in Wales, Alegrias, with Caerphilly in lockdown.
Rhondda Cynon Taf has a rising number of cases as has Cardiff.
Face masks will be compulsory from Monday in shops and the 'rule of six' will apply to gatherings indoors although children under 11 will not count in that number..

It is as predicted months ago.

Thanks Callistemon

The Scottish briefings are just a facade of control. They haven’t stopped the virus from taking the same toll as elsewhere. The number of deaths in care homes in Scotland is shocking, after they were forced to take untested patients from hospitals. The Nike Conference outbreak was hidden from us for as long as possible.

Briefings have failed to stop the same surges and hotpots as England and Wales have seen so I cannot see what purpose they serve or why people think Sturgeon has done any better than anywhere else.

So, what does everyone think?

I think that the BBC is broadcasting so many repeats at the moment that they're working with a skeleton staff.
DH came in to watch Escape to the Country yesterday only to find it was another repeat of a repeat which was broadcast just last week.

Lazy broadcasting is why this could be happening.
We're paying for an inadequate service.

I don't think briefings were going to stop the impacts of a global pandemic SueDonim......

However they do tell us what's going on. Did you read my post above? That I would want regular briefings whoever was in charge? Or are you just fixated on the whole "SNP baaaad" thing?

Not everyone is able to access updates online. I personally know several “elderly” people who are unable to access the internet and watched this daily update while shielding.
At a time when numbers are creeping and we are repeatedly told the elderly are most at risk it’s bad timing to withdraw this service.

The briefings are informative and journalists are able to question the PM and her advisors. I like that. I would expect a FM of any political persuasion to take on the same responsibility.
Perhaps the English Grans can tell us if having no daily briefings made any difference to them.

No, Alegrias I’m interested to know why people think Sturgeon has done such a good job when the figures don’t support that. The R rate is now 1.4 in Scotland, the highest in the UK and it has the third highest death rate in Europe. That’s not exactly a success on the lines of New Zealand.

To use another poster’s term, maybe it’s the sheeple who are being led to believe that the SNP can do no wrong.

I was led to believe the fm was only going to hold briefings mon wednesdays friday however I do enjoy them I’ve supported NSwith her briefings she’s been totally clear in her delivery not like some I could mention. Now I’m not going into politics cause it’s a minefield of varying opinions not necessarily true.we all believe what we want to believe it’s our basic human right to do so

They are valuable and very clear and NOT political! Just having paid my mother's full license for BBC for 85yo who is very partially sighted (not severe enough to only pay half though she can't see the screen a foot away) I am furious. She listens every day and has no access to mobile phone or computer! We also listen as it impacts people sometimes at very short notice. What a cheek the BBC have. If I could watch over channels without BBC and not pay a license fee I would. Hopefully STV will take over.

I’m baffled that anyone thinks that advice doled out on the basis of who-votes-where vis a vis Aberdeen/Glasgow and which leads to an R rate of 1.4, the third worst death rate in Europe and the percentage of deaths in care homes is good advice.

I’m interested to know why people think Sturgeon has done such a good job when the figures don’t support that. The R rate is now 1.4 in Scotland, the highest in the UK and it has the third highest death rate in Europe.

She hasn't but she is good at spin, SueDonim.

Perhaps the daily update should be continued by someone other than a politician who does have an agenda to peddle.

What a cheek the BBC have.

I do agree, Elaine
We pay for this service and they should be answerable to the licence payers, should be totally impartial and not have their own agenda.