Covid Scotland RECAP: Nicola Sturgeon defends exam results system amid claims second crisis looms | Scottish Government urged to put Boris Johnson under pressure over ‘vaccine apartheid’

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Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from MSPs today at FMQs.Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from MSPs today at FMQs.
Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from MSPs today at FMQs.

Scroll down to see the latest news on the pandemic on Thursday, June 10.

Covid Scotland: The latest updates on Thursday, June 10

Key Events

  • Nicola Sturgeon to face MSPs at FMQs
  • FM insists historical school data will not drive results system
  • Coronavirus laws to be extended into 2022 under Government plans

Scotland has recorded one coronavirus death and 735 new cases in the past 24 hours, the latest Scottish Government figures show.

I stand ‘full square’ behind trans community – Nicola Sturgeon

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she stands “full square” behind transgender people, as she said the Government will look to update the protocol for gender reassignment.

During First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon expressed her support for the trans community, adding “all of us have a duty to stand up for equality, however difficult that may be on occasion”.

Ms Sturgeon admitted work is needed on the waiting times for appointments at Scotland’s four gender identity clinics, with patients currently facing a possible two-and-a-half-year wait to be seen.

Following a question from Green MSP Gillian Mackay, Ms Sturgeon said: “I absolutely stand here full square behind trans people in the discrimination and stigma and prejudice that they face and in the ongoing battle for equality for which they have as much of an entitlement as anyone else in our society.

“There are many things we’ve got to do, not least reducing waiting times for gender identity services… but I think all of us need to realise that progress in our society is rarely all one way.

“We always have to protect and continue to win and re-win the progress we have made.”

Ms Sturgeon went on to say it is up to the people of Scotland to “make sure that our progress as a country continues to be in the forward direction and that Scotland is a place where everybody feels valued and respected and able to be who they are”.

She added: “That’s the country I want to not just lead, but the country I want to live in as a citizen, and I think we’ve all got work to do to make sure it is reality and not just rhetoric.”

Ms Mackay said: “Trans people are our friends, colleagues and family and they deserve to be able to express their identity in peace.”

On what the Scottish Government plans to do to improve gender identity care in Scotland, the First Minister told MSPs: “We’re working with NHS Scotland to improve gender identity services, including reducing waiting times – which I think everybody recognises are far too long – and that causes additional trauma and anxiety.

“We will shortly be writing to the national gender identity clinical network for Scotland to ask them to review and update the gender reassignment protocol.”

Fan zone will be one of the safest places to watch Euro 2020, claims official

The Euro 2020 fan zone in Glasgow will be one of the safest places to watch the tournament, an official has said.

Up to 6,000 people a day, split into two sessions, will gather in the fan zone in Glasgow Green to watch matches on every day of the tournament, which is the first the Scotland men’s team have qualified for in more than two decades.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of the event amid the pandemic, with fans not required to take a lateral flow test before attending.

Public health expert Professor Linda Bauld, of the University of Edinburgh, has warned the fan zone is “not without risk”, though Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has insisted it is a “low-risk event”.

Mr Yousaf is due to meet with Glasgow City Council officials for further discussions on measures at the event.

Final preparations are under way in Glasgow Green ahead of the opening of the fan zone on Friday, with supporters able to watch matches on four giant screens.

Nicola Sturgeon: "No learners grades will be marked down or up because of their school's past performance. If any learner has demonstrated that, for example, they deserve an A grade then an A grade is what they will receive."

Douglas Ross: "Once again, young people will lose out, based solely on where they go to school. This is the same shambles as last year – it’s just more sleekit."

Nicola Sturgeon: “Can I take the opportunity today to wish Steve Clarke and all of the Scotland men’s football team all of the best as they prepare to embark on this European Championship campaign.”

Website for youngsters expanded to tackle pressures caused by pandemic

A website set up by the Scottish Youth Parliament has been expanded to help young people cope with the pressures of the Covid pandemic.

The Scottish Youth Parliament and the Children’s Parliament joined forces to set up the Mind Yer Time resource last year, helping children and young people learn about healthy use of screens and social media.

More than 650 Scots aged between eight and 25 have since helped with work to expand the website, and it now includes content on home learning, dealing with screen time guilt and navigating video chats.

Mental wellbeing minister Kevin Stewart praised the initiative, describing it as a great way to ensure youngsters are getting the “support they need to tackle stresses and challenges faced online”.

Mind Yer Time has been developed with interactive content that mirrors popular online apps and websites, such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.

It also includes sections aimed at helping young people deal with issues such as body image, anxiety and online bullying.

First Minister’s Questions gets under way - you can follow all the updates here

First Minister takes opportunity to wish Scotland well at Euro 2020 at the start of FMQs

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