SCOTLAND’S FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has issued an apology after photographs emerged of her not wearing a mask in a bar in Edinburgh.
Sturgeon was photographed chatting with three other women inside the bar in the Scottish capital this past Friday.
The image, which was obtained by the Scottish Sun, was taken at the Stable Bar and Restaurant, following the funeral of a senior Scottish Government civil servant at Mortonhall Crematorium.
Earlier that day, Sturgeon was pictured wearing a tartan face mask which was seemingly removed once she was inside the venue.
Commenting on the images, Scotland’s First Minister acknowledged the mistake, adding that she was “kicking herself” after being seen to break the very coronavirus rules she put in place.
“‘Last Friday, while attending a funeral wake, I had my mask off briefly,” she said.
“I talk every day about the importance of masks, so I’m not going to offer any excuses. I was in the wrong, I’m kicking myself and I’m sorry.”
Under the rules currently in place in Scotland, face masks are mandatory inside all hospitality settings, including bars and restaurants.
The rules have been in place since September 13. Masks may only be removed once a customer is seated at a table.
Any breach of the rules carries a £60 fine, while repeat offenders can incur charges of up to £960.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Conservative party has condemned Sturgeon’s actions, stating that she “should have know better”.
Worse still, they argued her actions had served to undermine “essential public health messaging”.
“It’s a blunder that an ordinary member of the public wouldn’t get away with. There cannot be one rule for Nicola Sturgeon and another for everyone else.’
