Sturgeon hits again after being accused of Covid inquiry ‘cover-up’

Nicola Sturgeon has hit again at claims that she had engaged in a ‘cover-up’ by claiming that the UK Covid Inquiry ‘does have messages’ between her and people who she communicated with through the pandemic. 

The former first minister stated that she would ‘reply questions straight and brazenly’ when she offers proof to the inquiry on the finish of January. 

Ms Sturgeon’s intervention comes after the UK Covid Inquiry heard on Friday that every one WhatsApp messages despatched and acquired by her through the pandemic had been erased. 

The former chief of the Scottish National Party had beforehand stated that she had by no means used casual messages to make choices through the Covid pandemic.

She had given a public assure in 2021 that she would submit all messages to the pandemic probe.

The UK Covid Inquiry had heard on Friday that every one WhatsApp messages despatched and acquired by the previous first minister through the pandemic had been erased

Ms Sturgeon had beforehand claimed that she had by no means used casual messages to make choices through the Covid pandemic

The ex-SNP chief is because of seem earlier than the UK Covid Inquiry later in January, the place she stated that she would reply questions ‘straight and brazenly’ 

During the pandemic, it had been extensively reported that the messages have been deleted.

Jamie Dawson KC, counsel to the inquiry, stated on Friday {that a} desk submitted by the Scottish Government confirmed that was the case.

Ms Sturgeon has been criticised by political opponents who claimed that she is making an attempt to cover exchanges with key ministers and advisers.

Douglas Ross, the chief of the Scottish Conservatives, stated that the revelations amounted to a ‘shameful cover-up’. 

Scottish Labour deputy chief Dame Jackie Baillie stated the information was ‘nothing wanting horrifying’ and a ‘stunning betrayal’. 

On X, previously often called Twitter, the previous first minister wrote on Saturday: ‘I don’t intend to present a operating commentary on the continued Inquiry.

‘Instead, out of respect to all these impacted by the pandemic, I’ll reply questions straight and brazenly after I give proof on the finish of this month.

‘However, in mild of current protection, there are particular factors I really feel it necessary to clarify.

‘Contrary to the impression given in some protection, the Inquiry does have messages between me and people I most usually communicated with by means of casual means.’

Ms Sturgeon claimed that she had all the time ‘acted according to Scottish Government coverage’ in a press release posted on X, previously Twitter

She added: ‘Although these had not been retained alone machine, I used to be capable of acquire copies which I submitted to the Inquiry final 12 months.

‘To be clear, I performed the Covid response by means of formal processes from my workplace in St Andrews House, not by means of WhatsApp or some other casual messaging platform. I used to be not a member of any WhatsApp teams.

‘The variety of individuals I communicated with by means of casual messaging in any respect was restricted.

‘Also, any handwritten notes made by me have been handed to my non-public workplace to be handled and recorded as acceptable. Throughout the whole course of, I acted according to Scottish Government coverage.’

Ms Sturgeon went on to say that whereas she did her finest to steer Scotland by means of the pandemic, she admitted she ‘didn’t get each determination proper – removed from it’, however stated she was ‘motivated solely, and always, by the willpower to maintain individuals as protected as doable’.

The Scottish Government was contacted for remark.