Nicola Sturgeon has been reported to police after footage shows she appears to be violating Covid’s Scottish face mask laws.
A video posted on social media shows that the first minister did not wear a mask during a visit to a barber shop in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, during a visit to Saturday’s local election campaign.
In a video on a mobile phone, Sturgeon, who became prime minister in 2014, is seen uncovered as she talks to clients and pats a man’s head in a barber’s chair while mimicking the sound of electric hair clippers.
However, in another video posted to her official Twitter account from the same event, she can be seen wearing a tartan mask while shaving a man’s beard.
Restrictions in Scotland mean that it is a legal requirement to wear a face mask in most indoor public places, including shops, public transport and hairdressing salons. The rules will become guidelines on Monday, although they will encourage people to continue wearing masks when appropriate.
Sturgeon apologized in December 2020 for violating Covid’s rules by removing his face mask at a funeral, describing it as a “stupid mistake.”
Voters will go to the polls to elect their local councils in May.
A Scottish police spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have received a complaint, which is currently being assessed.”
A SNP spokesman said: “The first minister was invited to a barber shop during an outdoor visit to the street. Within seconds, she realized she hadn’t put her mask back on and immediately put it on. ”
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhain said the incident showed Sturgeon was a hypocrite.
“The video clearly shows that Nicholas Sturgeon does not practice what he preaches on face masks. She is happy to signal official photos, but behind closed doors it is clear that she does not believe in her own rules, so why should anyone else?
The press association contributed to this report
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