EDINBURGH, Scotland – Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vehemently denied accusations that her decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic were influenced by a desire for Scottish independence. Sturgeon gave evidence to the UK Covid Inquiry in Edinburgh, rejecting claims of secrecy and defending her handling of informal messages relating to pandemic management.
Her appearance at the inquiry came amid allegations of deleted WhatsApp messages and accusations that the government sought to avoid scrutiny. Sturgeon admitted to deleting her WhatsApp messages as per official advice but assured that all relevant information had been provided to the inquiry. However, the absence of informal messages related to pandemic management has raised concerns about transparency.
Sturgeon also faced questions about potential political motivations during the pandemic, with emotional moments and tearful testimonies. She reiterated that her decisions were driven solely by public health reasons and not by any political considerations. Despite criticisms of the government’s deletion policy, some officials have submitted text conversations to the inquiry.
During her testimony, Sturgeon expressed regret over the government’s response to the pandemic, specifically citing the delay in implementing lockdown measures in March 2020. She also dismissed claims that she sought to downplay Freedom of Information rules and emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust during the pandemic.
The inquiry also delved into the government’s decision-making processes, including the absence of minutes for essential meetings and the handling of certain decisions. Sturgeon defended her leadership and decision-making, asserting that the cabinet was not sidelined and that decisions were based on thorough discussions and evaluations.
Sturgeon’s emotional and raw testimony highlighted the challenges and complexities of managing the pandemic, providing insight into the difficult decisions made by government officials. Following her appearance, the inquiry is set to continue with further testimonies from key figures, shedding light on the government’s pandemic response.