The National:

EVERYONE is entitled to their views on Scottish independence – and whether you like a politician is ultimately down to personal preference.

But surely regardless of your ideology, claiming a leader is “more dangerous” than a virus which has killed more than half a million people worldwide – and more than 50,000 people here in the UK, according to the ONS – is not reasonable. Nor would it be something to laugh about.

On his talkRADIO programme last night, host and executive Sun editor Dan Wootton did exactly that as caller “Barry from Glasgow” made the ridiculous claim.

Speaking to the caller, Wootton asked what he thought Scotland’s First Minister “playing at”.

Barry responded: “I have no idea Dan. As far as I’m concerned there’s only one thing more dangerous in Scotland than Covid, and that’s Nicola Sturgeon.”

The journalist then laughed as he replied: “Really even more dangerous than Covid? That’s saying something.”

The caller told Wootton he thought the First Minister was “clearly playing a game”, and complained that she had made Boris Johnson “look stupid” at the start of the pandemic by giving a briefing to Scotland on the virus before he could address the UK.

Not that it’s particularly difficult to make the Prime Minister look stupid – he tends to do a pretty good job of that himself. And we addressed complaints about this matter at the time – we stand by them. Scotland’s health service is devolved, so Scotland had every right to hear about the virus directly from Sturgeon.

Barry complained that Sturgeon has spoken consistently at Scottish Government daily briefings. “If you notice she’s done every single one rather than delegating it to another minister,” he told Wootton as if it was some sneaky scheme, rather than efforts to keep the public engaged on the most major world event to occur in our lifetimes …

Wootton continued his rant: “She has this desperate attempt to want to stay in the international spotlight doesn’t she – she wants to be the Angela Merkel, the Jacinda Ardern, it’s all about – the problem is with Sturgeon Barry, it’s all about putting on a performance rather than actually delivering for the Scottish people.”

We would argue Sturgeon has delivered for the Scottish people by pursuing an elimination strategy on Covid-19, but never mind.

The presenter then claimed he had a “little secret” on Nicola Sturgeon – insisting she only wants to be interviewed by “interviewers who she knows are favourable to her policies”. He complained that the First Minister did not want to appear on talkRadio.

That’ll be why she has answered questions from every journalist on Scotland’s political spectrum since the beginning of the crisis then. If you’re worried about accountability, you might want to take a look at Boris Johnson’s willingness to be asked questions …

Wootton then concluded that the BBC’s Sarah Smith had produced a “puff piece” about Sturgeon because when referring to polls putting support for independence consistently about 50%, she said “any Unionists are now going to have to face the prevailing tide of an independence movement”.

“I’m sorry what?” he scoffed. “Because of a couple of polls?”

The independence movement doesn’t start and end at Nicola Sturgeon and opinion polls, Dan. The marches of thousands of people through Scotland’s streets and constant votes in favour of pro-independence manifestos would show you that.

Yessers were frustrated with the clip on social media. “Why would any serious politician including @NicolaSturgeon go on a programme filled with this kind of ill-informed ranting drivel?”, Gerry Hassan asked.

“State of this,” another pro-independence account commented.

One user replied: “Alexa, show me a bunch of angry people, lashing out because their Queen and Country stuff is falling apart.”