Jamie Hepburn was accused of breaching the rules while out campaigning for the Scottish Parliamentary elections. The SNP minister was photographed with five other people while out campaigning in Croy and Smithstone in North Lanarkshire last Saturday, March 27.
Scottish Government guidance put forward for the 2021 ballot on May 6th says only four people from two households are able to meet up for leafleting.
However, the picture posted to the SNP politicians Twitter account shows six people including the Scottish Business Minister, before being deleted.
The post on Twitter read: “Your socially distanced, masked and ready to go Cumbernauld and Kilsyth SNP campaign team out in Smithstone and Croy today.”
Scottish Government guidance added: “Under the stay at home regulations, travel is permitted for work or volunteering which cannot be done from home.
“Candidates and agents can travel to the constituency or region in which the candidate is standing if the activity cannot be done from home.
“Similarly, party leaders and the minimal number necessary of supporting staff can travel between local authority areas to campaign.”
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, said: “With another SNP government minister breaching campaigning restrictions, it is clear that the guidance in place needs to be urgently clarified.
“Everyone with an interest in politics is keen to get out and about but they must keep themselves and voters safe at all times.
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It comes just hours after deputy First Minister John Swinney apologised after breaching coronavirus regulations while out campaigning in North Perthshire last Friday.
In a statement, Mr Swinney said: “A small number of my supporters were leafleting in the same town.
“We should not have gathered together at that time and I apologise for that.”
Parliament business minister Grahame Day who first announced the election coronavirus rules to MSPs also apologised after holding an outdoor gathering.
In a statement, an SNP spokesman said Mr Hepburn, who is standing for the Kilsyth and Cumbernauld Constituency, said a socially distanced photo was taken but admitted too many people were in the picture and it had sent out “the wrong message.”
Meanwhile, Police Scotland are investigating after a comment calling for Nicola Sturgeon to be decapitated was posted by someone using the nickname “Andy” on the Wings Over Scotland blog.
The unknown user posted the harrowing comment pledging that they will try to stop Ms Sturgeon from being elected to Holyrood and read: “Decapitating this witch would stop the SNP dead in their tracks.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police Scotland has been made aware of online comments regarding the First Minister and the information is currently being assessed.”
