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Nicola Sturgeon squirmed under pressure after Sky News’ Sophy Ridge grilled the Scottish First Minister on her “mistakes” in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. The SNP leader was repeatedly confronted about the nation’s higher death rate within care homes compared to England. She admitted “deep regret” over the significant death toll inside Scottish care homes but refused to admit she had made any mistakes. 

Ridge questioned whether it was a mistake to discharge patients from hospital into care homes.

Ms Sturgeon responded that at that point “rightly or wrongly, there wasn’t the same understanding of how the virus is spread by asymptomatic people”. 

The Sky News’ host followed: “But, will you accept that that was a major error?”

She said: “If we knew as much about the virus in the early stages as we do now, some of the decisions we made may have been different.”

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She went on to say: “I didn’t have the knowledge that I have now back then.

“Look, every single death from this virus is a matter of deep personal regret for me.”

The Scottish leader also appeared to blame an “under-reporting of deaths in England” when asked why Scotland has suffered so many deaths in care homes. 

Addressing the disparity, Ms Sturgeon said she does not “believe that that is the case”.

Later in the interview, Ms Sturgeon said she agreed with scientists that any easing of the coronavirus lockdown must be very cautious after some of those advising government said Britain was moving too quickly.

She told Sky News: “I agree with the opinion that has been expressed over the weekend that we’ve got to be very cautious.

“This virus hasn’t gone away, there is still a significant risk that it could run out of control again.”

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Viewers praised Ridge for “holding Sturgeon to account”.

One viewer remarked: “Good to see Sophie Ridge on Sunday asking the hard and uncomfortable questions to Ms Sturgeon.

“We need answers, she seemed slightly uneasy, not her usual easy questions.”

Another added: “Wow, Nicola Sturgeon exposed badly on Sky.” 

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