Nicola Sturgeon and Sarah Smith show how to have an ‘adult conversation’ – leader comment

Nicola Sturgeon and Sarah Smith’s spat over the BBC reporter’s suggestion the First Minister was enjoying the chance to set her own lockdown rules is resolved by a simple apology.

After Sarah Smith's apology, Nicola Sturgeon said 'the matter is closed'

It is impossible to imagine anyone ‘enjoying’ the coronavirus crisis, so Nicola Sturgeon was quite right to pick up BBC reporter Sarah Smith after she told News at Ten viewers that the First Minister had “enjoyed the opportunity to set her own lockdown rules”.

“Never in my entire political career have I ‘enjoyed’ anything less than this. My heart breaks every day for all those who have lost loved ones to this virus,” she tweeted.

The subsequent apology – in which the contrite journalist said she should have said “embracing” and “never meant to suggest she is enjoying this crisis” – didn’t particularly please the First Minister either, who said she was “just doing what I judge best in very difficult circumstances”.

But then she added: “That said, I understand the scrutiny that comes with it and accept Sarah’s clarification. For me, the matter is closed.”

No one, neither journalists, nor politicians, is perfect. If we make a mistake, we should apologise. And we should also be big enough to accept an apology if offence has been given.

It’s all part of having an “adult conversation”.