NEIL Oliver has caused a stir online after going viral over “baffling” comments about lockdown and the Scottish Government.
Speaking exclusively to The Herald, the Coast presenter claimed that “lockdown is the biggest single mistake in world history”.
Speaking about the Scottish Government in his full interview, he later added: “We’re in failed state territory. I hang my head in disbelief and sadness at what Scotland has become – the state of the economy, the state of the health service, of education, the fiasco of the ferries, the drugs deaths.
“It’s a shambles and shameful and I look on at the country of my birth with nothing but sadness at how far we’ve fallen.”
The words came ahead of his debut Saturday evening slot on the most controversial and talked-about media launch in years - GB News.
With a Herald subscription you can read our exclusive interview with Neil Oliver, where he talks GB News, lockdown and the Scottish Government.
READ MORE: Neil Oliver: 'I'm in disbelief at the shambles Scotland has become'
However, it’s not just the channel that has attracted attention – with Mr Oliver’s comments trending on social media with hundreds weighing in on the debate.
Responding to a post, in which Mr Oliver was quoted as saying the Scottish Government was a “shambles”, actor Iain Robertson tweeted: “Yesterday he said he was apolitical.
“I mean everyone is entitled to their opinion & the Scottish Government is far from perfect - but when you compare them to the corrupt bin fire governing in Westminster, it just makes this man’s views all the more baffling”.
He added: “To be fair, I think he’s just realised that there’s coin to be had in being a contrarian.
“I shouldn’t give it oxygen & I’ll avoid that from now on. We need to outgrow our outrage at people intentionally stirring it up for attention. It’s tiresome & quite sad really.”
Paisley and Renfrewshire North SNP MP Gavin Newlands rejected an offer to read the interview, posting on Twitter: “Sorry no, I've chosen to cut my fingernails with pliers instead”.
Never known for missing the chance to display a bit of hyperbole, I give you Scotland’s very own 🤡 👇https://t.co/IxxJVZmCTZ
— James Dornan SNP (@glasgowcathcart) June 11, 2021
READ MORE: Neil Oliver: 'Lockdown is the biggest single mistake in world history'
Glasgow Cathcart MSP James Dornan shared a link to Mr Oliver’s article, adding: “Never known for missing the chance to display a bit of hyperbole, I give you Scotland’s very own clown”.
And on the presenter’s comments that “lockdown is the biggest single mistake in world history”, journalist James Doleman went viral after asking: “Worse than appeasing the Nazis, invading Iraq or giving you a TV show?”
However, not everyone online was speaking out against Mr Oliver’s comments.
"The number of people I know personally that have been ruined by [government restrictions]... Self-employed people that were getting no help, nothing for furlough. People who've had no support, lost businesses, lost livelihoods...” Neil Oliverhttps://t.co/w1fSq8YVAU
— The Reclaim Party (@thereclaimparty) June 11, 2021
READ MORE: GB News' Neil Oliver slammed by expert over 'offensive' lockdown claim
One Twittr user, @Rickrick142, wrote: “At least a real news outlet, well said Neil Oliver. #GBNews.”
Another, Sean Walsh added: “Neil Oliver has a maximum intelligence, intellectual curiosity, conjoined with minimal ego (I know that personally).
“He's one of the good guys.”
And @JanetMcwee said: “Neil Oliver is allowed to have an opinion, he has never declared to be an expert in virology.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel