The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Legionnaires’ outbreak: Sturgeon to blame

Posted on June 07, 2012 by

At least, that’s the impression you’d get from today’s Guardian. Not one but two pieces by Severin Carrell are both illustrated with pictures of the Deputy FM this morning – one in front of a Saltire for good measure – with very little justification to be found in the text below.

The first piece, which is prominently displayed on the front page of the Guardian website doesn’t even feature a quote from the Health Secretary – she gets just a single passing mention in the fourth paragraph – while the second at least does include a couple, but not until seven paragraphs in.

You can’t avoid pictures of Sturgeon whichever of the paper’s four articles on the outbreak you choose – every single one has her image on either the story or itself or the “related” column, sometimes doubled up. It’s clear that the reader is meant to associate the outbreak with Sturgeon, and while it’s a slightly more nuanced approach than Carrell has adopted previously, there’s no mistaking the intent, especially when it’s backed up by innuendo from reliable Labour rent-a-quotes:

The first case of Legionnaires’ Disease in Edinburgh was identified on Sunday, and the 16 cooling towers thought to be responsible were discovered and sterilised on Sunday night and Monday morning, despite the public holiday. We’re not sure how much more rapidly Lord Foulkes imagines the Scottish Government could have acted, but with the help of friendly media the subtle smear will seep out anyway. The Scotsman’s first “SNP accused” headline can surely only be hours away.

3 to “Legionnaires’ outbreak: Sturgeon to blame”

  1. Scott Minto (Aka Sneekyboy) says:

    Less than 24 hours from discovery to identification and rectifying action and that’s a long time to foulkes?

    Man needs to retire!

    Reply
  2. MajorBloodnok says:

    Mabe he was just tweeting in Beau Geste?

    I’ll get my capote.

    Reply
  3. Dál Riata says:

    Severin Carrell as a journalist is a fraudster. He is allowed to promulgate his version of Scottish ‘news’ by the Guardian which rarely let his reports be opened up to comments. He then goes on Twitter to spout his true feelings on events, doing Scotland and independence down at every opportunity. An MSM Unionist troll is all he is.

    Reply


Comment - please read this page for comment rules. HTML tags like <i> and <b> are permitted. Use paragraph breaks in long comments. DO NOT SIGN YOUR COMMENTS, either with a name or a slogan. If your comment does not appear immediately, DO NOT REPOST IT. Ignore these rules and I WILL KILL YOU WITH HAMMERS.


  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,930 Posts, 1,244,534 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Cynicus on Wider Than A Mile: ““ Swinney rivals Trump for BS ” ========= So, the rumours are true! He really is Sturgeon’s ventriloquist’s dummy.Jun 11, 00:47
    • Dan on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Hmm, more on planet Armageddon. https://robinmcalpine.org/five-years-ago-progress-on-climate-change-ground-to-a-halt-in-scotland/ So is the perceived lack of further progress on climate action actually because it…Jun 10, 20:36
    • robertkknight on The Ever-Changing Lie: “I agreed with you Willie right up until your united Ireland assumption. I see it this way… A unified Ireland…Jun 10, 19:27
    • Dan on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Aye, I’m minded to agree with that Northcode. It seems to me that there are too many supposedly pro-returning Scotland…Jun 10, 18:55
    • Jay on Wider Than A Mile: “….the financial impropiety is bad enough, but what about the attempt to put Alex Salmond in gaol?Jun 10, 18:25
    • Iain Ross on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Has anyone asked Swinney whether the missing £460,000 and £660,000 are mutually exclusive ? If they are then he needs…Jun 10, 18:23
    • Northcode on The Ever-Changing Lie: ““… get them to lick their own shit and enjoy it…” What a disgusting and childish metaphor… it fits you…Jun 10, 18:18
    • Douglas on Wider Than A Mile: “Swinney rivals Trump for BS but it will not stop the truth train that is coming down the line.Jun 10, 17:03
    • Sean Duffy on Wider Than A Mile: “Ah! But how can we be sure what the SNP spent the money on? Bearing in mind that Swinney was…Jun 10, 16:38
    • cirsium on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Brandeis was not talking about soap. “Brandeis made his famous statement that “sunlight is said to be the best of…Jun 10, 15:52
    • Young Lochinvar on Wider Than A Mile: “Heard on the radio Val McDermid (sounding like a wee boy) advertising her latest novel. What she failed to explain…Jun 10, 15:44
    • cirsium on The Ever-Changing Lie: ““Brandeis made his famous statement that “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants” in a 1913 Harper’s Weekly…Jun 10, 15:34
    • Hatey McHateface on Wider Than A Mile: “I’m with J B Drummond. Until Grenfell is sorted, Indy can wait. Not forgetting the boy who got killed by…Jun 10, 15:29
    • Maxxmacc on Wider Than A Mile: “A story: “Can you take this file over to B Wing immediately”, barked the officer. B Wing, he thought, that’s…Jun 10, 15:21
    • Hatey McHateface on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Great comment, Jay. Have you read the article at the top of the page? Would you agree that has 77th…Jun 10, 15:19
    • Hatey McHateface on The Ever-Changing Lie: ““oaths bind only when the authority remains worthy of obedience” Looks like Northy has worked out for himself the self-justification…Jun 10, 15:15
    • Hatey McHateface on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Wally Walrus wakes! Actually, it’s another 5-letter word that preserves the alliteration. You keep your flapping flippers above the table,…Jun 10, 15:06
    • Casper on In pursuit of clarity: “The nightmares you must cause….?Jun 10, 15:05
    • cirsium on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Well said Willie. For an example of the “resource raiders” in action, watch the documentary embedded in Grousebeater’s site https://grousebeater.wordpress.com/2026/05/17/the-fall-of-the-clyde/Jun 10, 15:01
    • Northcode on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Discovering that the English crown’s claim to be the lawful ruler of Scotland is a lie immediately invalidates any oath…Jun 10, 14:45
    • BH on Wider Than A Mile: “It’s a shut and shut case.Jun 10, 14:25
    • sam on The Ever-Changing Lie: “The net national debt of Ireland at the end of 2025 was 22% of GDP and expected to rise to…Jun 10, 14:21
    • Lothianlad on Wider Than A Mile: “Yep, i know plenty if SNP diehards who wouod go to war fir the SNP against indeoendence! Though in truth…Jun 10, 14:21
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Wider Than A Mile: “I don’t think the SNP is the top layer of the onion.Jun 10, 14:12
    • Jay on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Several dumping comments on Wings fit exactly in the framework which you mention, Fearghas. Useful to have the advertisement as…Jun 10, 13:48
    • Confused on Wider Than A Mile: “Do you have any information or a view on the possible/likelihood of : Murrell fiddling the leadership election for Humza…Jun 10, 13:47
    • Alf Baird on The Ever-Changing Lie: ““the “coloniser’s values”” ‘Values’ are essentially what is deemed to be significant to a culture/people. The coloniser’s values are therefore…Jun 10, 13:45
    • Jay on The Ever-Changing Lie: “Willie, thank you for your perspective and clear vision.Jun 10, 13:41
    • Ian on Wider Than A Mile: “Depending on your view, you would either laugh or cry at the thought of the 2015 – ? SNP being…Jun 10, 13:32
    • Mark Beggan on Wider Than A Mile: ““Who are we? We’re the SNP”!Jun 10, 13:30
  • A tall tale



↑ Top