Scottish first minister reported to police for appearing to break face mask rules

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) - Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was reported to police after social media footage appeared to show her breaking her own face mask laws.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said on Sunday: “We can confirm that we have received a complaint which is currently being assessed.”

Sturgeon visited a barber’s shop on Saturday as part of a campaign event ahead of local elections next month. In addition to being the first minister of Scotland, Sturgeon is also the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP).

She was captured by cameras wearing a tartan mask, but social media footage showed her later in the same shop not wearing a mask and meeting with locals and customers.

The legal requirement to wear facemasks in indoor public settings, such as barber’s shops, will be lifted tomorrow.

Sturgeon has previously twice delayed the lifting of compulsory mask wearing, and encouraged people to wear them voluntarily after the legal requirement was lifted.

She was reported to Scottish police by Conservative activist Jane Lax, who accused Sturgeon of showing “disdain and sheer arrogance.”

An SNP spokesman said: "The first minister was invited into the barbers during an outdoor visit on the street. Within a few seconds, she realized she hadn't put her mask back on and immediately put it on."

Sandesh Gulhane, a health spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: “The video clearly shows Nicola Sturgeon isn’t practicing what she preaches on face masks. She’s happy virtue signaling 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 colors. The public, who have been under these legal COVID restrictions for over two years, deserve an apology for this rule break.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who leads the Conservative Party, is under pressure to resign after being fined by police for attending a party that broke his own lockdown rules.