THROUGHOUT the coronavirus crisis the First Minister has done her best to remain diplomatic while trying to keep Scotland informed about the pandemic.
Nicola Sturgeon has said she wants to avoid getting too political, and rejected claims from Unionist politicians that the Scottish Government’s daily briefings are like party broadcasts.
This morning TV presenter Lorraine Kelly tried to push the First Minister into political territory – bizarrely asking if she made certain decisions to “embarrass” Boris Johnson, and whether she judged the Prime Minister for taking a holiday to Scotland during the pandemic.
Sturgeon remained diplomatic throughout the interview, even while Kelly handed her some prime opportunities to take a swipe at the Prime Minister.
Kelly asked the SNP leader if she wants to “embarrass” Johnson – not that he needs much help with that – with certain Covid-19 policies.
Sturgeon answered: "Nothing could be further from my mind right now, I’m sure there are critics of mine out there who want to believe the worst of me.
“We’re in a global pandemic dealing with an infectious virus.
"Every single day right now, all I occupy myself with are the discussions and the decisions about how we keep people as safe as possible.
"It’s the only thing driving my decision making and the decision making of the Scottish Government – trying to do the right thing, recognising, given how unprecedented this situation is, that we won’t always get things right.
“It’s important we don’t have things cast in stone and have the ability to be flexible and adapt.
"Every leader of every government everywhere is grappling with the same challenges right now, we’re all trying to do our best and I think we should be trying to learn from each other as much as possible."
Kelly then asked Sturgeon if she judged the Tory leader for taking a “staycation” through the pandemic – and the exam results fiasco.
Sturgeon again didn’t fall into the trap. She told the presenter: “We all have to take our own decisions, I’m not going to criticise other leaders, we're all trying to navigate our way through a difficult situation.
"I’m very mindful Boris Johnson was in intensive care with COVID earlier in the year, he’s also got a very young baby, I’m not going to criticise the decision he takes about his individual life and holidays and time off.
"I’ll take my decisions - some people might think they’re right and some people might think they’re wrong.
“My place, literally, is every day here in the HQ of the Scottish Government … that’s the choice I make at this time. others will make their own decisions.”
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