Sturgeon Acknowledges Deleting Messages But Denies Using WhatsApp for Major Decisions
Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon appeared before the UK COVID-19 Inquiry in Edinburgh, where she denied using WhatsApp to make policy decisions but admitted to deleting messages.
Initially, she stated that she did not retain the messages, but when pressed, she acknowledged that she had deleted them due to security concerns. Sturgeon also explained that she seldom used informal messaging and never for substantive discussions or decision-making during the pandemic.
She also agreed that she authorized “burner” phones to be put on parliamentary expenses, stating that she personally did not purchase or use them. Current First Minister Humza Yousaf later issued an apology for poor handling of requests for WhatsApp messages.
An external review has been announced by the Scottish Government into the use of mobile messaging. The inquiry also faced criticism for its focus on WhatsApp messages, with some criticizing it for predetermined outcomes. The inquiry began in June 2023 and is expected to run until 2026.
During her testimony, Sturgeon denied making decisions for political reasons, claiming her primary motivation was to keep people safe during the pandemic. She expressed regret for not locking down the country earlier and denied using the crisis to further the cause of Scottish independence.
Following Sturgeon’s testimony, UK government’s Scottish Secretary Alister Jack accused her of play-acting and expressed skepticism about her denial of political motivations. He also noted the tensions between the Scottish and UK governments due to their differing positions on the union.
