THE Scottish Greens have apologised for an “honest mistake” after MSPs breached Covid rules in an Edinburgh bar. 

Co-leader Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were photographed with fellow Green MSP Ross Greer and another man in Browns on George Street in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Current rules mean that only three households are allowed to be together in a hospitality or domestic setting in Level 2.

Harvie, who is a resident of Glasgow which is currently under Level 3 restrictions, is allowed to travel for work, but should not have been inside the hospitality premises.

The party leaders have both since apologised and said it was an “honest mistake”. 

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The photograph, shared by the Scottish Sun, shows Lothian MSP Slater and a man sitting at a table while West of Scotland MSP Greer is standing in front of the table.

The National:

The back of Harvie can be seen as he walks towards the table. 

It is understood that the photograph was taken at around 5pm and that the MSPs had passed the bar earlier in the afternoon and were heading towards the First Minister’s residence Bute House. 

The three left shortly after 6pm, having stayed for over an hour.

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Scottish Greens co-leaders Harvie and Slater said: “We attended a work-related meeting in a venue in central Edinburgh on Tuesday evening, where the three-household limit was not upheld. 

“This was an honest mistake, we're kicking ourselves and we apologise unreservedly.”