COVID cases spike to 3000 a day
Government blames young people realxing and partying and endangering everyone else.
This is so wrong and so counter-productive.
Here are four reasons why

First, it is untrue. Slightly more young people may not be non-adherent than other age groups but most still are complying even though they are at less personal risk. See data below from August on whether you are more or less likely to visit pubs in the coming weeks.

Second, by suggesting that young people are not adhering it creates a norm that can actually increase non-adherence (if everyone elose is partying, why not me?). This is a classic error of messaging which the government were clearly advised on. Someone wasn't listening.

Third by setting up a demonic 'other' who is causing all the problems (those awful young people) it allows people to ignore their own transgressions. But remember, in Glasgow the spike wasn't a few house parties, it was a lot of peeople having a few too many people round.

Fourth, by blaming the public it individualises the problem and ignores systemic causes of infection: pubs reopening, people pressured back to work, no adequate test and trace system, no support for people to self isolate. Effectively, the government is saying 'it ain't us Guv'.

In sum, blaming young people won't help and may make things worse. But, as ever, this government is putting the management of blame before the management of the pandemic.