SOLICITORS representing families who lost loved ones to Covid-19 are demanding clarity after they were told Nicola Sturgeon did not have any “relevant” WhatsApp messages to hand over to ongoing inquiries.
Counsel acting on behalf of Scottish ministers said former first minister Sturgeon did not have any relevant informal correspondence - which could include private messages, emails or diaries - that were relevant to the handling of the pandemic.
There are currently two Covid-19 inquiries underway, one in Scotland and another UK-wide.
Aamer Anwar, lead solicitor for the Scottish Covid Bereaved group, said it should be a matter for inquiry officials to determine what information is considered relevant.
The group has made further legal submissions to the UK Covid Inquiry calling for all unredacted WhatsApp messages and other relevant materials to be provided.
In a new statement, he said a request “should be made of Scottish ministers to provide to the inquiry any communications held by informal means in order that the primary relevance test can be carried out by this inquiry”.
Anwar (pictured below) said: “The Government is and should be answerable to the people, this applies to both the Scottish Government as well as the UK Government.
“We were advised by the Scottish ministers’ counsel that Nicola Sturgeon has advised them she does not have such informal messages – i.e. WhatsApp messages.
“Today we have sought full clarity from the UK and Scottish Inquiry as to what has happened to Ms Sturgeon’s WhatsApp messages, and why they are not being disclosed in their entirety.
“Ms Sturgeon and other Scottish ministers should be in no different of a position to that of Mr Johnston, Rishi Sunak or Matt Hancock, the job of establishing the relevance is a matter for this inquiry.
“We have said before and say it again, no individual, no matter how powerful, can be allowed to interfere with the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability in this inquiry. Those who lost their lives to Covid-19 deserve nothing less.”
A spokesperson for Sturgeon said: "Nicola has provided, and will continue to provide, all information she holds to cooperate fully and provide any and all documentation, including messages, to help with both the UK and Scottish Covid inquiries."
Sturgeon will give evidence to the Scottish inquiry at a later date, alongside former deputy first minister John Swinney, health secretary Jeane Freeman and Scotland’s former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood.
It comes as a transparency row erupts between the UK inquiry and the Westminster government after WhatsApp submissions from senior aides had been redacted.
