Scottish Government Faces Backlash Over ‘Humiliating U-Turn’ in COVID-19 Messages Handover
The Scottish Government is facing criticism after being forced to perform a ‘humiliating U-turn’ in handing over thousands of private messages to the UK Covid-19 public inquiry. The SNP Government has agreed to provide 14,000 messages from ministers, officials, and advisers following the threat of legal action from the inquiry. However, concerns have been raised about potential cover-ups and a lack of transparency surrounding the issue.
The controversy intensified after Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, repeatedly refused to confirm whether she had deleted WhatsApp messages sent during the pandemic. Deputy First Minister Shona Robison also refused to disclose details about the number of deleted messages, who deleted them, or any efforts made to retrieve them. Critics have expressed fears about secrecy and called for full transparency.
The UK Covid-19 inquiry has been receiving explosive evidence about messages sent during the pandemic, but no such communications have been provided by the Scottish Government despite demands for transparency. The SNP ministers have now agreed to hand over the messages, mainly from WhatsApp, following a legally-binding order from the inquiry. Failure to comply could result in criminal charges.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross accused the Scottish Government of secrecy and highlighted the revelation that messages had been manually deleted by Nicola Sturgeon and Scotland’s most senior clinician, Jason Leitch. He demanded clarity on whether the recovered messages include those deleted by Sturgeon and Leitch, emphasizing the need to prevent an indefensible cover-up.
While announcing the decision to hand over the messages, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison issued an apology to bereaved families who expressed anger over the Scottish Government’s failure to provide any WhatsApp messages to the UK inquiry. Ms. Robison confirmed that the Scottish Government received the section 21 notice, which requires them to share all messages by November 6. She admitted that only messages related to government business were usually transcribed and stored, indicating that many group chats and conversations may be lost forever.
During a press conference, Nicola Sturgeon refused to deny allegations that she had deleted her messages. She stated that she is fully cooperating with the inquiry and has submitted multiple written statements. However, she reiterated that the requests and responses are confidential until the inquiry decides otherwise. Sturgeon emphasized that she handled information in line with the policies set out by the Deputy First Minister.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie claimed that messages had been destroyed on a significant scale and questioned the failure to retain evidence since the discussion of a public inquiry in May 2020. Baillie criticized Sturgeon’s dodging of questions and urged her to provide a full record of her WhatsApp messages if she has nothing to hide.
This latest development has intensified the controversy surrounding the handover of COVID-19 messages by the Scottish Government. Critics argue that the delayed delivery of the messages and the alleged deletions raise concerns about transparency and the potential withholding of crucial information. As the inquiry continues, there is growing pressure for full disclosure and accountability in relation to the handling of COVID-19 messages by the Scottish Government.
