Nicola Sturgeon has admitted that the Scottish government’s use of WhatsApp was “too common” during the COVID pandemic – but said decisions were not made over the messaging app.

Scotland’s former first minister is giving evidence at the COVID Inquiry as it probes the devolved administration’s response to the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon told the inquiry that the Scottish government was open, transparent and accountable during the pandemic, but admitted it “will not have got every decision right” and “will have made misjudgements”.

She said: “Openness and transparency with the Scottish public was very important to me from the outset of the pandemic.

“I communicated to the public on a daily basis for a lengthy period of time.

“We will not have got every decision right, and we will have made misjudgements, and there will be undoubtedly instances put to me today where, on reflection, I will think that we could have been more transparent than we were.

“But given the nature of the emergency that we were confronted with, building a relationship of trust with the public was important.

COVID inquiry: Nicola Sturgeon admits WhatsApp use ‘too common’ – but says decisions not made over app

‘The virus is still evolving at an incredible rate’: How widespread is COVID now – and how many people are dying with it?

COVID inquiry: John Swinney messages to Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf deleted ‘manually’

“And in my view, then and in my view now, that had to be built on a spirit of openness.”

COVID Inquiry live: Nicola Sturgeon gives evidence

Ms Sturgeon said the use of WhatsApp was “too common” but maintained that she did not use informal messaging apps for decision-making.

She said: “I have not said, and I’m not saying today, that I never used informal means of communication. What I am saying is that I did so very rarely and not to discuss issues of substance or anything that could be described as decision-making.

“There was a high degree of formality around the decision-making of the Scottish government.”

Ms Sturgeon, who was a near-constant presence on the nation’s TV during the pandemic, announced her shock resignation as SNP leader and first minister in February 2023.

In June, she was arrested and later released without charge amid an ongoing police investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances.

And now, her leadership and competence during the pandemic are under scrutiny – with accusations of secrecy and an inclination to hoard power.

Highlights from Ms Sturgeon’s evidence:
• Ms Sturgeon said the impact of decisions she made throughout the pandemic will stay with her forever.
• She said she did not recall receiving an email in August 2021 about the importance of retaining relevant material to the work of the inquiry.

Read more:
Forbes ‘surprised’ no minutes exist from key meetings
Freeman ‘will regret care home deaths for rest of her life’
Yousaf admits ‘winging it’ as health secretary

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The inquiry is currently sitting in Edinburgh.

Ms Sturgeon’s evidence comes amid ongoing scrutiny over messages exchanged by ministers and officials during the pandemic.

The inquiry has already heard how the former first minister and her deputy John Swinney failed to retain their WhatsApp messages, although Ms Sturgeon later said correspondence had been handed over after being saved by recipients.

Professor Sir Gregor Smith, Scotland’s chief medical officer, told colleagues to delete WhatsApp messages “at the end of every day”, while national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch described the daily deletion of messages as a “pre-bed ritual”.

Messages presented at the inquiry have included Ms Sturgeon branding then prime minister Boris Johnson a “f****** clown”, and the then justice secretary Humza Yousaf describing the Scottish Police Federation as a “disgrace”.

Related posts:

David Cameron breaks silence over Greensill lobbying controversy £535 debt ‘owed’ by Boris Johnson removed by county court Minister says no delay to lockdown easing in England on Monday despite spread of Indian variant ‘If she can do it, so can I’: SNP’s newest MP says she wants to be role model for other minorities Extra £82m in funding needed for government to meet pledge to end rough sleeping by 2024 – report Three children and seven women among 27 who died in Channel – as picture of flimsy dinghy emerges There’s one clear winner after PM’s grim week and it’s not Starmer – or the Tory rebels Tory leadership race is already turning out to be ill-tempered, vicious and ugly Sunak’s speech shows cosy UK-China ties since Cameron’s pint with Xi are ‘beer today, gone tomorrow’ Johnson ally dismisses partygate bash as just ‘soggy sandwiches and a slice of birthday cake’ Boris Johnson ‘nominates father for a knighthood’ COVID herd immunity was a ‘clearly ridiculous’ and ‘dangerous’ policy