‘She’s failed herself’ - Edinburgh shop owner reacts to Nicola Sturgeon's Covid rule breach

A shop owner working less than a mile from the pub where the First Minister was photographed breaking government guidelines has said it’s “hard to sympathise” with Ms Sturgeon.

'Hard to sympathise' with Ms Sturgeon: Businessman Pete Jackson

The SNP leader has apologised after a photograph of her in the Stable Bar and Restaurant without a face covering surfaced.

Under Scottish Government guidance, hospitality customers must wear a face covering except when seated.

The picture is reported to have been taken following the funeral of a senior Scottish government civil servant at Edinburgh’s Mortonhall Crematorium.

Pete Jackson, owner of The Farm Shop at Mortonhall, has been working 12 hour shifts, seven days a week in his store which is located less than a mile from the Stable Bar.

The hard-working shop owner said he “finds it hard to sympathise” with the First Minister saying: “It’s just very, very disappointing.”

He went on to say that his staff has found it difficult to wear masks during their long shifts in the lead up to Christmas but they have “managed it” because it’s the “right thing to do”.

Mr Jackson added: “I would love to take my mask off, it’s hard wearing it, but we are all doing it seven days a week as work to protect our customers and ourselves.”

Following the release of the photo many Evening News readers were quick to defend the FM saying it was an “honest mistake.”

But others believe she has lost people’s confidence with some calling for her to resign.

Mr Jackson said that the situation has been “blown out of proportion” but said that he feels ‘extremely let down’ and is not surprised others share his feelings.

He said: “I think she has lost a lot of people’s confidence in the last 24-hours, you can't stand on a podium at 5pm every night taking the glory for a great job and then break the rules you have set.

“Not wearing a mask is a failure, she has failed herself. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel of all this when the person meant to be leading you through has failed.”

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