THE First Minister scolded LibDem MSP Mike Rumbles this afternoon as he continually shouted over her while she answered questions on the new level 4 Covid restrictions.
Nicola Sturgeon was taking questions following the announcement that 11 areas will be moved into level 4 restrictions, and a travel ban would become law, from Friday.
Tory MSP Donald Cameron asked how police can enforce the travel ban, under which people will be unable to travel into or out of level 3 or 4 areas unless for essential purposes.
READ MORE: Travel ban for Scottish areas in lockdown level 3 and 4 to be made law
As the First Minister began to answer his question, Rumbles, an MSP for North East Scotland, repeatedly shouted “unenforceable”.
Sturgeon said: “None of the restrictions that we’ve put in place are easy to enforce – the regulations will be –“
Rumbles continued his heckling, shouting “it’s impossible!”.
The First Minister called on the presiding officer to intervene. “If Mike Rumbles wants to ask a question I’m more than happy to answer it, but he is shouting repeatedly at me from a sedentary position.
“I know he vehemently disagrees with what I’m setting out but, I really hope he will have enough respect to understand that these are not easy decisions and they are not decisions that are being taken lightly.”
MSPs applauded her response.
Sturgeon went on to add that enforcing the travel restrictions will be similar to how it worked during the initial March lockdown. She explained that the law is there as a “last resort” and will be used “only where there are clear and flagrant breaches”.
Outlining the new rules earlier, the First Minister told the Chamber it “means people living in level 3 or level 4 must not travel outside their own council area, except for certain essential purposes”.
She added: “And there must be no non-essential travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK.”
According to the Scottish Government’s own strategic framework, “exemptions for essential travel [include] work, education, shopping, health etc; outdoor exercise; weddings and funerals; shared parenting, and transit through restricted areas”.
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