FM: Public interest in TV briefings

Nicola Sturgeon has insisted there is public interest in her daily televised coronavirus briefings.

She said the events are important to provide the public with the latest guidance and information, at a time when she is concerned people may be a “bit lax” about following the regulations.

Opposition leaders have claimed she has made the briefings – which are broadcast live on BBC Scotland – like “an SNP party political broadcast”.

But Ms Sturgeon said: “The provision of updates and information, but also the ability to stand and look down this camera and give people the advice we all need to follow to keep this pandemic under control, I think is really important and it continues to be important because we’re not out of this, the risk hasn’t gone away.”

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said while the briefings had been “quite right” at the start of the pandemic, as the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths have fallen “there’s inevitably less to say about them, the first minister has turned to political pointscoring”.

He said the briefings should be a “purely factual event”, or else the BBC should “take a stand and refuse to give her the airtime”.

Ms Sturgeon responded: “I would say to the opposition... don’t try to undermine the public health messaging we really need to still get across to people.

“I make that as a genuine and honest plea to my political opponents.”