COVID-19: Nicola Sturgeon apologises for breaking coronavirus rules at funeral wake

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is "kicking myself very hard" after breaking coronavirus rules by taking off her face mask at a funeral wake.

A photograph, published by the Scottish Sun, shows her chatting to three women in a bar while not wearing a mask.

"I want to take this opportunity to say how sorry I am for my breach of rules that I ask all of us to follow every single day," she told the Scottish Parliament.

"I took my face mask off while briefly attending a funeral purvey last week... I want to be clear today that regardless of the circumstances I was in the wrong. There are no excuses.

"These rules do apply to me, just as they do to everyone else and the rules really matter.

"I am kicking myself very hard - possibly harder than my worst critic ever could. But more importantly I'll be making sure I don't drop my guard again."

Face coverings for customers and staff are mandatory when entering, exiting and moving around hospitality venues under Scottish regulations.

Those who breach the face covering rules can be fined up to £60.

Ms Sturgeon was at the Stable Bar and Restaurant after attending a funeral for a Scottish government civil servant, the Scottish Sun reported.

A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: "The first minister should know better.

"By forgetting the rules and failing to set a proper example, she's undermining essential public health messaging.

"It's a blunder that an ordinary member of the public wouldn't get away with. There cannot be one rule for Nicola Sturgeon and another for everyone else."

Scotland's Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf tweeted: "FM has approached pandemic by being upfront from v beginning.

"She has apologised for accidental lapse (which I suspect most of us have had one over last 9 months).

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"I've known her for 15yrs & she is her harshest critic. I am sure most ppl will understand, accept apology & move on."

Prof Jason Leitch, the Scottish government's national clinical director, said he spoke to Ms Sturgeon last night and she was "absolutely furious with herself".

He said she was leaving the funeral when some ladies called her back over and so the first minister "inadvertently forgot to put her face covering back on".

"She feels worse than everybody else," he told Sky News, adding: "I think it's a lesson for all of us."