East Renfrewshire’s MSP says chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood’s position is ‘untenable’

Dr Calderwood has been a familiar face on our television screens in recent weeks throughout the coronavirus pandemic, telling us all to follow the guidance and stay at home.

But photographs have emerged of her failing to follow her own advice.

Dr Calderwood was pictured 44 miles away from her home in Edinburgh with other family members at their second home in Earlsferry, in the East Neuk of Fife.

She has since apologised but Mr Carlaw, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, suggested she should not continue as Scotland’s chief medical officer.

He said: “Dr Calderwood’s position is very difficult, untenable even, given the damage this has caused public trust.”

Mr Carlaw said people in his East Renfrewshire constituency and across the country were complying with official advice to stay at home and protect the NHS.

He added: “There cannot be one rule for the bosses and another for everyone else.”

Dr Calderwood has responded to the images, saying that while “there are reasons for what I did”, they “were not legitimate reasons to be out of my house.”

She said: “I wish to apologise unreservedly for the issue reported in the media today.

“While there are reasons for what I did, they do not justify it and they were not legitimate reasons to be out of my home. While I and my family followed the guidance on social distancing at all times, I understand that I did not follow the advice I am giving to others, and I am truly sorry for that.

“I know how important this advice is and I do not want my mistake to distract from that.

“I have a job to do as Chief Medical Officer to provide advice to Ministers on the path of this virus and to support the medical profession as they work night and day to save lives, and having spoken with the First Minister this morning I will continue to focus entirely on that job.”