Nicola Sturgeon has criticised the host of her own SNP conference after it emerged she had spread covid conspiracy theories.
The First Minister said the opinions of Hayley Matthews, who claimed she would not let her child have a flu jab or any “covid s****”, were "absolutely" not the views of her party.
Matthews, who worked for the BBC and STV and is now a newspaper columnist and TV contributor, has introduced speakers and debates at the SNP conference.
Sturgeon and her colleagues have warmly welcomed news of a covid vaccine, and have hit out at coronavirus conspiracy theories, but Matthews’ views have caused alarm.
As revealed by this newspaper, she wrote in October that she would not be taking a flu jab as she has never been a “fan”.
She wrote: “The big pharma companies assure us they’re safe however, the less chemicals pumped in us, surely the better, no? I started researching heavy metal detoxing and the benefits on child behaviours and adult health so I’m going to give it a go as the metals in these vaccines worry me greatly.
“So that’s why I’ve decided not to get the flu jab or give it to my eight-year-old. Instead I’m upping vitamin C to 1000mg daily, we’re all on probiotics and taking more of the good stuff.”
She added: “By all means get your flu jab if that’s what’s best for you. However, this winter the kids and I will be rolling about in the mud and eating worms because nature’s the best medicine.”
Matthews also responded to a tweet on Covid and children by writing: “Would not let my kid have a flu jab or have any covid s***e! Love from Scotland.”
In a Twitter discussion on masks, she replied to a man who wrote that people can get advice from trusted sources such as the World Health Organisation: “You can’t be serious… are you?”
She also liked tweets by former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, who has been accused of being a Covid conspiracy theorist, and President Trump.
Asked about Matthews at her daily briefing, Sturgeon said: “I have seen the reports in the media today. Hayley Matthews is a professional presenter as part of the technical team to stitch together the online conference we are having right now.
“The views I have seen attributed to her in the media today are absolutely, emphatically not the views of the SNP and absolutely not the views of the Scottish Government. I read a comment from her this morning that says she absolutely will get the vaccine when it is available.”
She continued: “Let me be very clear. I have stood up here almost every day for nine months to advise people about public health risks. I will continue to advise people to do the right things and when the time comes to get the vaccine. So clearly these are not views that i would endorse in any shape or form.”
It is unclear whether Matthews will introduce the First Minister today.
Matthews blocked the Record on Twitter when we approached her for comment and later deleted her account.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon has accused Matthews of peddling "dangerous nonsense" about vaccines.
Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “The SNP must seriously reflect on their decision to give someone who is spreading fear and falsehoods about the covid vaccines such a significant platform alongside the First Minister.
“It does a disservice to our dedicated and exhausted health professionals, who have been battling the harsh end of this crisis for months on end, to lend any credibility to people with these views.”
Matthews said in a statement yesterday: “As I stated in my Edinburgh Evening News column, I’m not an anti-vaxxer. The pandemic has been tough for all of us and I’m sure I’m not alone in learning how
