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Nicola Sturgeon denied claims she has been using the coronavirus pandemic to push for Scottish independence as she noted she hasn’t even mentioned the word, independence.” Host Lorraine Kelly asked the SNP leader: “There has been accusations, hasn’t there? A lot and you know there has of you using this crisis to further Scottish independence. You were accused this week of enjoying this situation although the person concerned has apologised to you. There has been a lot of that, how do you deal with that?”

Speaking to ITV, Ms Sturgeon said: “I try to tune it out. I can honestly say hand on heart that I’ve never enjoyed anything less in my whole life.

“This is grim. It’s grim for everybody trying to deal with the lockdown, it’s particularly grim for far too many people who have lost loved ones.

“And for anyone in a place of leadership, regardless of the politics, this is not easy.

“You’re taking decisions that are really tough, there are no good options in front of us.

“The idea that anybody relishes this in any way is nonsense and I think most reasonable people understand that.

“On politics and the constitution, I don’t think I’ve mentioned the word independence.

“I’m not interested in traditional politics or constitutional arguments over this.

“People can believe that or not, from day one I’ve been trying to do everything I can to get this virus under control.”

It comes as Ms Sturgeon said she “felt like crying” when she saw pictures of large crowds on Portobello beach as she issued an appeal for people to stay in lockdown for “a little bit longer”.

The First Minister stressed the planned easing of lockdown restrictions will not happen if there is a spike in coronavirus cases in the next week.

Ms Sturgeon said Scots have been “truly magnificent in how they have complied with these restrictions”, but she urged people to only leave home for essential reasons until at least May 28 when lockdown may be eased.

In her “appeal to the public”, she said: “Just continue to do it for a little bit longer. Because if we see a regression between now and next week, I won’t be able to introduce the changes that I’ve talked about today and I don’t want to be in that position.”

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Asked by Scottish Greens co-leader Alison Johnstone about people flouting lockdown restrictions at Portobello in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon said the gatherings put Scotland’s progress in jeopardy.

She said: “When I saw the pictures of Portobello beach yesterday I almost felt like crying, to some extent.

“I know why people felt the need to do that and I completely sympathise, but every time we have people getting together in ways that provide opportunities for this virus, we risk the progress we have made together.”

On the issue of testing, Ms Johnstone argued that if Scotland had used its full capacity, “we’d be better informed about the virus, we’d be better able to protect people, and we’d be able to move to the test, trace and isolate strategy at faster pace than we have”.

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