Halloween, Key Workers and Covid Bonuses

Private Eye, the UK's best and only fortnightly satirical magazine, has a topical take on key workers and Halloween costumes. 

Not all key workers get a Covid bonus and some are more equal than others, of course.   

Covid, Bonuses and Essential Workers (October 28, 2021)

So rail workers are the latest group to benefit from a Covid bonus from Scottish Ministers - this time a payment of £300 which is more than the £250 paid to the police though less than the £500 paid to NHS and social care staff.

But just who makes this stuff up - why £300 to rail workers and only £250 to the Police?

And why nothing at all for the other essential workers, eg refuse workers and supermarket staff, or the soldiers who have stepped in to save the NHS from collapse?

The rot set in, of course, when Nicola Sturgeon announced the original £500 bonus to an online SNP conference in November 2020 - without any scrutiny from MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.  

Which is why we've ended up with a dog's dinner with some groups getting more than others, but many nothing at all - even though they've every bit as good a claim to be regarded as essential workers.   

Covid, Bonuses and Essential Workers (October 25, 2021)

Scotland's NHS workers and care staff all received a £500 bonus for keeping essential services going through the Covid pandemic.

Now Scotland's police officers are to receive a £250 Covid bonus - but what about all the others whose efforts ensured the lights stayed on, the supermarkets stayed open and our bins were emptied?

Along with the army, of course, who have been called in to prevent Scotland's health service from collapsing.