Important WhatsApp messages related to Covid-19 sent by Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon were manually deleted from her phone, it has been claimed.
And the revelation has prompted Jackie Bailey, Scottish Labour Deputy Leader, to ask: “What is the Scottish government trying to hide?”
Documents sent to the UK Covid Inquiry indicate that Ms Sturgeon, 53, is one of a number of senior government figures who say the data no longer exists.
Others include Humza Yousaf, 38, who replaced Ms Sturgeon in the top job earlier this year, and former Deputy First Minister John Swinney, 59. All claim the messages were deleted.
The revelation prompted Jackie Bailey, Scottish Labour Deouty Leader Jackie Baillie to say: “These bombshell revelations call into question what the SNP government is trying to hide.
“Humza Yousaf said his government would co-operate fully with the Covid inquiries, but this promise has been left in tatters.”
“If the top brass of the SNP has been destroying evidence it is a gross betrayal of bereaved families fighting for justice and an insult to all the Scots who made sacrifices during the pandemic.
“The same old SNP culture of secrecy and cover-up isn’t good enough – we need total transparency throughout these inquiries so we can get the answers Scotland deserves.”
Evidence provided to the inquiry also reveals national clinical director Jason Leitch said he had deleted messages daily.
Aamer Anwar, lead solicitor for Scottish Covid Bereaved, told the Daily Record: “The Scottish Covid Bereaved find it inconceivable that not just the likes of Jason Leitch but the most senior figures in the Scottish Government – from former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, former Deputy First Minister John Swinney, to the present First Minister Humza Yousaf – failed to retain their WhatsApp messages over the two-year period of the pandemic.
“At the very least by August 2021, when the Scottish Government announced a public inquiry, someone would have known that all those involved in key decision-making for the pandemic must immediately stop deleting the evidence. The families we represent deserve the truth.”
A spokeswoman for Ms Sturgeon said: “Nicola will continue to provide all information requested by the inquiry that she holds and will continue to cooperate fully with both the UK and Scottish Covid inquiries.
“She has recently submitted her third written statement to the UK inquiry – running to around 200 pages – and expects to give oral evidence again next year when she will answer all questions put to her.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As the First Minister has made clear, the Scottish Government is wholly committed to co-operating fully with the COVID-19 inquiries. This includes providing any requested material that we hold.
“More than 13,000 documents from the official record have been sent to the UK Inquiry from the Scottish Government, in addition to the corporate and personal statements requested. Providing the formal decision-making record has been our priority.
“The UK Inquiry has subsequently asked for WhatsApp messages relating to logistics and day-to-day communication, which we are working to provide.”
An SNP spokeswoman said: “There has never been any hesitation by former members of the Scottish Government to provide any and all information they hold, when appropriately and legally requested by the UK and Scottish inquiries, and they will continue to cooperate fully. It would not appropriate to comment further.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Mr Yousaf and Mr Swinney for comment.
