that was john swinney.hat recent events have expose nothing but a complete vacuum of leadership in the handling of this issue. the reality is that today's u—turn, and it is that, has been forced upon the government after relentless campaigning from all quarters, political, academic, charitable, and most importantly, by parents themselves to him that we owe the most credit in all of this. let's get more from our scotland correspondent james shaw — apart from being scunnered, a good scottish read, there are claims this isa u—turn? scottish read, there are claims this is a u-turn? he said it right there. he said there was no other way to describe it and iain gray from labour said it was the mother and father of all ministerial climb downs. that is certainly the opposition view in scotland. why has it happened? why has there been this change of heart and change of plans from the scottish government? from last week when john swinney was talking about a blended form of education, so some in schools and some at ho

here's scotland's education secretary, john swinney. people in scotland — a reduction of around 90% since may. there has been a sustained downward trend in covid—19 deaths. intensive care cases now stand at a fraction of what they were. if we stay on this trajectory, which cannot be taken for granted, by august, the position will be even better. that is good news. that means we are now able to update our planning assumptions. if we stay on track, if we all continue to do what is right and if we can further suppress this terrible virus, the government believes children will be able to return to school full—time in august. one last question for you about the uk government. it's been facing two huge disruptions — one of its choosing, brexit, another not of his choosing, brexit, another not of his choosing, covid—i9. how do those two disruptors affect its ability to get things done in the next six months oi’ things done in the next six months orso? things done in the next six months or so? if you had to pick a government in the european uni

speaking in the scottish parliament, john swinney said all schools would be able to reopen from augustnkfully, the picture looks more positive. since may, because of the efforts of our fellow citizens to stay at home, we have seen scotland to make significant progress. there are now only 2000 infectious people in scotland, a reduction of around 90% since may. there has been a sustained downward trend in covid—19 deaths. intensive care cases now stand at a fraction of what they were. if we stay on this trajectory, which cannot be taken for granted, by august, the position will be even better. that is good news. that means we are now able to update our planning assumptions. if we stay on track, if we all continue to do what is right, and if we can further suppress this terrible virus, the government believes that we should prepare for children to be able to return to school full—time in august. i must stress this is the aim that the government is now working towards, however, because it has to be achieved safely, it inevitably remains conditional and dependant upon ongoing scientific and