THE SNP have issued a response after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was criticised for briefly not wearing a face mask on a campaign visit.
Police Scotland has confirmed that it is “assessing” a complaint received on the matter.
A video posted on social media and shared by Scottish Tory MSPs shows the SNP leader not wearing a mask during a visit to a barber's in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, on Saturday.
Facemasks are still legally required in Scotland. pic.twitter.com/9dxazpy3QI
— Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP (@jhalcrojohnston) April 16, 2022
At the time there was a legal requirement to wear a face covering in most indoor public places in Scotland, including shops, public transport and hairdressers. That rule moved into guidance on Monday.
READ MORE: Partygate: Swithering MPs hold the key to Boris Johnson's survival
In the video, Sturgeon is seen without a face covering as she mingles with customers and pats the head of a man in a barber’s chair while mimicking the sound of an electric razor.
She is wearing a tartan face mask in the video of her visit to Iconic Gents Hair posted on her official Twitter account, in which she can be seen shaving a man’s beard.
An SNP spokesperson said: "The First Minister was invited into the barbers during an outdoor visit on the street.
"Within a few seconds, she realised she hadn't put her mask back on and immediately put it on."
💈 ✂️ I’ve done some surreal things on the campaign trail over my many years in politics - this (at Iconic Gents Hair in East Kilbride) has to be right up there with the best - and scariest!! For the record, it was all his idea! pic.twitter.com/66dDsz8erU
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) April 16, 2022
Among those to have complained to Police Scotland was former Tory party treasurer in Moray Jane Lax.
Lax was suspended from the party in 2019 after a vile tweet about the First Minister’s miscarriage.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have received a complaint which is currently being assessed.”
READ MORE: Why Douglas Ross’s error on Boris Johnson leaves him lost and alone
The legal requirement to wear a face mask in indoor settings in Scotland moves into guidance tomorrow.
The Scottish Government has strongly recommended that people continue to wear them where appropriate.
The Alba Party’s general secretary Chris McEleny (below) said: “This highlights that compliance is now completely out of the window and any notion that once Scotland fully aligns itself to Boris Johnson’s Covid surrender strategy on Monday it is highly doubtful we will see a high proportion of the public continue to wear face masks.
“With this gamble we will just need to hope that future variants don’t pop up that vaccinations don’t protect us from.”
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “The video clearly shows Nicola Sturgeon isn’t practising what she preaches on facemasks.
“She’s happy virtue signalling for official photos but behind closed doors it’s clear she doesn’t believe in her own rules so why should anyone else.
“This is blatant hypocrisy from the First Minister who has now shown her true colours.
“The public, who have been under these legal Covid restrictions for over two years, deserve an apology for this rule break.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel