Nicola Sturgeon coronavirus apology: 'She's absolutely mad with herself,' says Jason Leitch after First Minister photographed without mask in bar

Scotland’s National Clinical Director has defended the First Minister following her a Covid rule breach, saying she ‘inadvertently’ forgot to wear a face mask when she should have done.

Last night The Scottish Sun published a photograph of Ms Sturgeon talking to three pensioners at a distance in an Edinburgh restaurant following a colleague’s funeral, but with her face uncovered.

Professor Jason Leitch, speaking on Sky News this morning, said Ms Sturgeon is “absolutely mad at herself” and has since apologised.

He said: “She was leaving the venue, mask off and then was called back by some ladies in another piece of the premises and came back in and inadvertently forgot to put her face covering back on.

“She’s absolutely mad at herself, she should have put it back on, that what she said today, she apologised to everyone.”

The picture is reported to have been taken at the Stable Bar and Restaurant following the funeral of a Scottish Government civil servant at Mortonhall Crematorium.

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