JOHN Swinney has vehemently denied suggestions of “political interference” in the independent Covid inquiry, after a slew of resignations from the group.
Following the resignation of Lady Poole – who remains chair of the inquiry for three months until a successor is appointed – four lawyers quit the group, for reasons which are not currently known.
The Deputy First Minister repeatedly fended off calls for further detail on the state of the probe by saying the Government was explicitly barred by law from meddling in its affairs.
Murdo Fraser, who shadows Swinney’s position as Covid Recovery Secretary, asked: “Can he give us an assurance that none of these resignations have come about because of any political interference in the direction or operation of the inquiry?”
Swinney said he took “the greatest exception” to suggestions he or the Scottish Government had interfered with the work of the inquiry.
He said he had “judiciously” followed the law surrounding legal inquiries – set up by, but independent from, the Government – and in particular, the section of the law that “guarantees” their freedom from political influence.
“Just for the record; there has been absolutely no political interference in the inquiry,” he added.
The Government critics and groups of families hoping for answers on how Scotland handled the pandemic were angered by the string of resignations.
Aamer Anwar, a solicitor acting for Scottish Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, told The Times earlier this week: “The first reaction of the families was dismay and anger at the delay that the Scottish chair’s resignation yesterday will cause to Scotland’s Covid-19 inquiry. So far it has failed to deliver on the promises made to them.”
The paper also reported an inquiry source that said the real reason for the resignations was that the lawyers and Lady Poole got on so badly they could not work together.
Swinney made it public on Monday that Lady Poole had resigned with the news that four lawyers for the inquiry had also quit breaking on Tuesday.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, the leader of the Scottish LibDems, said he was “concerned” about what he called the “confusion” around Lady Poole’s departure. He queried what the Deputy First Minister knew about the reasons behind the chair and the four lawyers' resignations.
While refusing to be drawn on when he knew of the other resignations, Swinney replied: “I don’t know where to start with that question to be honest because I’ve just stood up in parliament and made it clear that I am following the law.
“The law requires me to respect the independence of the inquiry. If I was to go around nitpicking about the inquiry, which is what Mr Cole-Hamilton invites me to do, [then] Mr Fraser would be on his feet accusing me of interference.
“Can we please respect the fact that this is an independent inquiry?
“The Government has done its bit, which was to appoint a chair and consult and agree a terms of reference. And those terms of reference … are judged to be absolutely appropriate and, across the chamber, everybody took the view that Lady Poole was an appropriate appointment.
“So the two things the Government is allowed by law to do … have been broadly supported across this chamber.
“Lady Poole has decided to resign. It is not for me to interfere in the running of the inquiry. My job now is to ask the Lord President – which I have done – to provide nominees to replace the judicial leadership and I will resolve the leadership of the inquiry as quickly as I possibly can.”
Labour’s health spokesperson Jackie Baillie demanded assurances the inquiry would not be delayed by the dramatic turnover in staff.
Swinney responded that he wanted the inquiry to be delivered “at speed” and later expressed his desire to “minimise any disruption” in its work.
A similar inquiry, examining the pandemic response of the UK Government to the Covid pandemic, is currently underway in England.
