Council co-leader who said 'not a cat in hell's chance' of second coronavirus wave urged to withdraw remarks

A leading Fife councillor who said there wasn’t a “cat in hell’s chance” of a second wave of coronavirus hitting Scotland has been urged to publicly withdraw his remarks.

David Alexander came under fire from Councillor David Ross - his co-leader at the helm of the local authority, the third largest in Scotland.

And there was further pressure on Mr Alexander when his comments were blasted as “wilfully ignorant” by Willie Rennie, North East Fife MSP and leader of the Scottish Lib Dems.

The criticism came just 24 hours after his remarks during a council debate over a motion which called on First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to conduct a “rapid inquiry” into Scotland’s handling of the pandemic.

Cllr Alexander, who is the SNP member for Leven, Kennoway and Largo, said: “ "There is no indication of a second wave- none whatsoever in Scotland."

"There is absolutely no indication at all."

"We have had no deaths in a Fife care home since July. Where is the second wave? There is not a cat in hell's chance it's coming at this moment."

Fife Council co-leader: 'Not a cat in hell's chance' of second wave...

Cllr Alexander’s co-leader, Labour councillor, David Ross, moved quickly to distance himself from the comments.

He urged him to make a public retraction, stating: “This contradicts everything we’re being told by the Scottish and UK Governments and by public health.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from Cllr Alexander yesterday, and was absolutely appalled by these remarks.

“Even if they were was said in the heat of the moment, for a co-leader of the council to make such a remark is totally irresponsible. It gives completely the wrong message to people in Fife and Cllr Alexander needs to make an immediate public retraction.”

Further criticism came from Willie Rennie MSP, as the Lib Dem leader condemned Cllr Alexander’s comments as “wilfully ignorant of the facts.”

He continued: “David Alexander has his fingers in his ears, a blindfold over his eyes and his head in the sand if he thinks there is no chance of a second wave in Fife.

“His own party in government recognises the risks across Scotland and it is thanks to the caution and care of everyone across Fife that we are keeping the spread of the virus low and saving lives.

“To not see the very clear and present risk of the virus is to be wilfully ignorant of the facts. We have seen outbreaks in Dumfriesshire, Lanarkshire and Aberdeen so Fife could be next.”

Mr Rennie called on the First Minister to contact her leading local authority figure in the Kingdom, and “advise him on what the real picture is across the country including in Fife.”

He added: ““We should expect more from a co-leader of Fife Council as people may listen to him. If people drop their guard the consequences could be severe.

“There is a risk his views may have an impact on the policy and actions of Fife Council on the handling of the virus too.”

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