My Corona Crisis Fears For Nicola

First Minister’s mum on how she watches for signs of strain Care timebomb claims after 13 in home die within one week

- Jennifer Hyland

We worry about her... we worry about the burden she carries. And we watch her every day on TV. I always look for the signs she’s not feeling right

Mum of First Minister on fears overpressure on daughter

Nicola Sturgeon’s mum has told how she fears tackling the coronavirus crisis is taking its toll on her daughter.

Joan Sturgeon revealed she watches the Scottish Government’s daily briefings on the outbreak with husband Robin to check on the First Minister’s health. She said: “We worry about her. We worry about the burden that she carries, as any parent would.”

Meanwhile, a charity called for a probe after 13 residents died from the virus in a care home in one week without being taken to hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon’s mum has revealed she fears for her daughter as the coronavirus crisis grows.

Joan, 67, said she and the First Minister’s dad Robin are worried about the toll Scotland’s lockdown is taking on her.

The former local councillor, from Irvine, Ayrshire, is glued to the daily press briefings where the FM has the grim task of delivering the country’s daily death toll.

The grandmother, whose other daughter Gill is an NHS worker, said she was always looking for signs that Nicola is OK.

She said: “I’m very protective of Nicola and I just want to give her a hug. It’s how we all feel right now. Everybody’s in the same position.

“We worry about her. We worry about the burden that she carries, as any parent would.

“But we watch her briefings every day. Sometimes I’m looking for signs she is maybe not feeling right, just like any mum would.

“She is working very hard, as anybody can see, and it is a concern of ours.”