Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, appeared on Loose Women today (April 20) to talk about some of the latest headlines in the news this week.
The FM spoke about a number of current issues including Boris Johnson, the importance of speaking about menopause and women's health as well as her recent mask controversy.
It comes as she was spotted not wearing a mask during a visit to a barber's in East Kilbride - located just outside Glasgow - on Saturday (April 16) which she had visited on the election campaign trail.
READ MORE - Harry Potter star Ezra Miller arrested for 'hurling profanities at karaoke singer'
Despite the rules for masks no longer being in place as of April 18, at the time there was a requirement to wear a face covering in most indoor public places in Scotland, including shops, public transport and hairdressers.
The SNP had said the FM had only been without a mask for seconds however despite police confirming they had received a complaint from a member of the public, they said they would not pursue the matter after talking to the FM.
The First Minister found herself in the wave of a Carol McGiffin onslaught as the panellist stated: "How can you say Boris shouldn't just have to apologise and should resign, when you have also broken your own rules, rules that you put in place to protect your nation?"
Nicola Sturgeon responded that it was a "fair question" but said forgetting her face mask for a few seconds was in no way similar to Boris Johnson's parties and "culture of rule breaking in Downing Street" during the "strictest part of lockdown."
"So I was on the street, I got called into a barber shop as it happened and I was talking to people and for literally just a few second I forgot to put a mask on as it was in my pocket and then I immediately did that. I think that is something that probably many people - if not most people - have done over the past couple of years," said the First Minister.
"Now let me be clear that I think it is right that I get a hard time for that than an average person because of my position and the fact that I set the rules.
"But is that the same - and I'll just pose this as a question as I think you know my view - is that the same as I think having six parties at the strictest part of lockdown presiding over what seems to be a culture of rule breaking in Downing Street and then not telling the truth to Parliament?
"I think we will have to agree to disagree on this matter, Carol, as we are getting nowhere with this discussion."
When asked if Ms Sturgeon would resign by McGiffin, she replied: "This time last year, for entirely different reasons which we don't have time to go into, I was facing accusations of having misled the Scottish Parliament.
"There was an independent inquiry into that which found that I didn't mislead Parliament. Had it decided that I had, whatever my views on the rights and wrongs of that had been, I would have offered my resignation because I think that is a really serious thing."
Taking to twitter to make their feelings clear one Twitter user said: "I never usually watch #loosewomen but Carol trying to say that Nicola forgetting a face mask for a few seconds is the same as Bojo having like 6 parties during the worst of the pandemic is the same... ehm think Carol needs a reality check."
Another commented: "Well done, @NicolaSturgeon for your handling of @McGiff and the #LooseWomen crew. Also for your honesty, talking about your own vulnerabilities; from menopause to miscarriage. You came across brilliantly, with a massive heart, and I’m proud to call you our FM of Scotland."
A third added: "There’s a difference between a face mask and multiple parties and bare faced lying."
What did you think about Nicola Sturgeon's appearance on Loose Women this morning? Let us know in the comments below.
