First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says Prime Minister Boris Johnson's special adviser Dominic Cummings should go
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there was a risk that trust between government and the public could be damaged if Dominic Cummings stays as special adviser to the prime minister.
There have been allegations that Dominic Cummings broke lockdown rules by travelling to the north of England with his family after his wife developed coroanvirus symptoms.
He has argued he wanted to be near family in case he also developed symptoms and his children needed care, and yesterday the Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended his actions, saying he "followed the instincts of every father" .
At today's Scottish Government coronavirus briefing Ms Sturgeon said: "I know many of you will be angry and frustrated at some of the stories you have heard in the last couple of days and feeling 'why bother?'
"I understand that but, as far as I am concerned the restrictions and rules we put in place really matter and the reason we ask you to stick to these rules is to protect you and your loved ones, to protect our National Health Service."
During the briefing she also acknowledged that she had initially sought to keep former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood in post, after it was revealed she had twice travelled to her holiday home in breach of lockdown guidelines.
She said, though, that she had changed her mind after reflecting on the impact that decision could have.
She said that at no time did she "defend" what Catherine Calderwoodd had done – and neither had Ms Calderwood herself.
"There was a risk of undermining public confidence in the measures we put in place and I later came to a different conclusion, as did Catherine Calderood herself," she said.
"I think Dominic Cummings and the Prime Minister should come to the same conclusion.
"I do think there is a risk that political interest is taking priority over the public interest and we are in a situation where trust in the public health advice needs to be maintained."
Also during the briefing Ms Sturgeon set out plans to reveal more of the detail around moves to ease lockdown measures in Scotland throughout this week.
Stressing that current lockdown arrangements remain in place for now, she said any easing was likely to take effect from Friday.
More detail on plans for test and trace measures and public transport are expected tomorrow.
