SNP ministers who breached coronavirus rules are “mortified”, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister insisted both John Swinney and Graeme Dey were “in the wrong” and noted they have “rightly apologised”.
Swinney had to say sorry after meeting up with four party activists to campaign for May’s election. He posted a picture of the meet – which contravenes rules stating only four people from two households can meet up outdoors – on Twitter on Friday.
It was subsequently deleted, with the Education Secretary stating: "A small number of my supporters were leafleting in the same town. We should not have gathered together at that time and I apologise for that.”
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Business Minister Graeme Dey was spoken to by police over a second Covid breach.
It is believed he asked at least eight people to gather near Carnoustie Beach for a picture “marking the first day of the Scottish election campaign”.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon confirms Scotland's first steps out of lockdown
The First Minister was asked about the incidents during her Scottish Government coronavirus briefing.
Asked why Scots should follow the rules if her ministers can’t, she replied: “Everyone should do it because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Nobody is infallible, including me,” Sturgeon said, highlighting the incident in December when she was photographed inside without a mask on.
On Swinney and Dey, she commented: “Knowing how seriously they both take their responsibilities they are both pretty mortified.
“None of us, unfortunately, are perfect and none of us are infallible. I think it’s really important that when people like us, particularly me, stand here and ask people every day to follow these rules, when we do slip up it’s really upfront about it and apologise and continue to ask people to do the right thing.”
Scotland’s chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith, was asked about the risks taken by the ministers by meeting up with activists outdoors.
He said: “We know if we compare indoors to outdoors that outdoors is safer than indoors, but it's not completely safe because you can still be infected by the virus in that environment.”
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