There’s word that Peterhead and Fraserburgh’s current rising infection rate, traced to fish processing plants, may see ‘Aberdeenshire’ raised from Spinal Tap 2 to 3, which means that Braemar, for example, a tiny village in the Cairngorm foothills 100 miles away from these higher risk areas would be affected. If nothing else, it shows up the folly and unfairness of massive local authorities, denuded of power, controlled from Holyrood with no concessions made to subsidiarity, a guiding principle of the devolution envisaged by those who designed it in the 80s and 90s when the current party of government was in the huff.
I’d take my chances tomorrow on home rule for Banffshire, preferably with Buckie left to fester in Moray.
The devolution handbrake is on, the engine is immobilised, and wheel clamps fitted, in Edinburgh.