BBC star monstered for suggesting that Sturgeon ‘enjoyed’ making own rules
‘I do not believe she is enjoying this crisis’
‘ ... It has been obvious that Nicola Sturgeon has enjoyed the opportunity to set her ‘’ own lockdown rules
– Sarah Smith
Never in my entire career have I ‘enjoyed’ anything less than this. My heart breaks every day for all those who have lost loved ’ ones to this virus
– Nicola Sturgeon
ONE of the BBC’s most senior journalists in Scotland has been forced to apologise after she said Nicola Sturgeon ‘enjoyed’ the opportunity to set her own lockdown rules.
Sarah Smith was the target of abuse on social media with calls for her to be fired after she made a ‘mistake’ during a live broadcast.
The First Minister was among those to call out Miss Smith on Twitter, prompting a flood of abusive messages.
The BBC’s Scotland Editor was speaking live on network news just after 10pm on Monday when she claimed that the SNP leader had ‘enjoyed’ taking a different route out of lockdown from the other countries of the UK.
Miss Smith said: ‘Now the Scottish Government say, like all the UK nations, they base their advice on expert advice that they are given and that it’s got nothing to do with politics.
‘But it has been obvious that Nicola Sturgeon has enjoyed the opportunity to set her own lockdown rules, not have to follow what is happening in England or other parts of the UK.’
Miss Smith’s report followed Miss Sturgeon’s announcement that she will look to ease lockdown measures from May 28.
This will mean Scots are allowed to meet family and friends from different households as long as they remain outside and socially distance from each other.
People will also be allowed to sit in parks once again, play tennis or golf, and garden centres are to reopen.
Some outdoor work will also be allowed to restart, including construction sites.
Miss Sturgeon will set out her ‘route map’ out of lockdown for Scotland tomorrow, more than a week after the easing of measures was introduced in England b y Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
In an earlier report, Miss Smith had said Miss Sturgeon had embraced the opportunity to set her own rules.
But within minutes of her appearance on the BBC News at Ten, Miss Smith was the target of messages from Nationalist politicians, officials and others – with some people leaving vile messages and calling for her to be fired by the BBC.
The hashtag ‘sack Sarah Smith’ was trending on social media yesterday.
Miss Sturgeon was one of those to respond to Miss Smith’s comments online. On social media, the First Minister posted: ‘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.’
It is understood that the SNP contacted the BBC regarding the comments, however, the broadcaster would not confirm this.
Miss Smith later posted a series of apologies online.
She said: ‘I do not believe that Nicola Sturgeon is enjoying this crisis. I had meant to say on the ten o’clock news that she has
“embraced” the opportunity to make a policy unique to Scotland. I said “enjoyed” by mistake. Not suggesting she is enjoying the crisis but embracing devolution.’
Despite her apology, Miss Smith received further abuse, prompting her to further apologise and clarify.
Miss Sturgeon later said: ‘I’m not “enjoying” or “embracing” an “opportunity”. I’m just doing what I judge best in very difficult circumstances.
‘That said, I understand the scrutiny that comes with it and accept Sarah’s clarification. For me, the matter is closed.’