Exclusive:'Simply shocking' discussions around handing Nicola Sturgeon's WhatsApps to Covid inquiries are secret

Humza Yousaf committed to releasing all WhatsApps and emails asked for by Covid-19 inquiry in June

Ministers have refused to confirm or deny the existence of any internal correspondence about how it is handling any potential request from the two Covid inquiries for Nicola Sturgeon’s WhatsApp messages to be handed over, sparking fury from Scottish Labour.

Lawyers for the former first minister claimed earlier this year that Ms Sturgeon, who led Scotland through the Covid response, did not have any relevant informal correspondence, such as text or WhatsApp messages, relating to the handling of the pandemic.

That came after solicitors representing bereaved families demanded any such messages be handed over in full to the inquiries.

Asked for any correspondence about how it handled the request or how the Government went about satisfying itself whether relevant messages existed, Scottish Government officials refused to say whether such discussions existed at all.

In response to a Freedom of Information request, officials claimed confirming or denying the existence of such discussions would “undermine the work of the inquiries and damage the relationship between the inquiries and the Scottish Government”. This is due to an agreement to ensure that any requests for information would remain confidential, the Government said.

However, this does not cover conversations on how those requests are subsequently handled.

Officials added: “If held, the release of this material would prejudice substantially, or would be likely to prejudice substantially, the effective conduct of public affairs. I am also satisfied that to reveal whether the information exists, or is held by the Scottish Government, would be contrary to the public interest.”

Humza Yousaf had previously told MSPs that any request for information would be fully complied with.

He said: “To ensure there is simply no doubt whatsoever, any material that is asked for – WhatsApp messages, emails, signals, telegrams, whatever is asked for or requested – will absolutely be handed over to the Covid inquiries and handed over to them in full.”

However, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, said it was “simply shocking” the public could not know whether Ms Sturgeon’s WhatsApp messages were being shared with inquiries.

She said: “Humza Yousaf promised in the Scottish Parliament that the people of Scotland would have full disclosure surrounding communications by Government officials during the pandemic.

“It is now abundantly clear that Mr Yousaf’s Government is now contemplating a cover-up and that his promises were little more than hot air. People deserve to know what the former first minister said and did relating to the pandemic.

“For many Scots who lost loved ones during the pandemic, this will come as a deep disappointment. It is vital that there is full transparency in regards to decisions made around the pandemic and the information provided to the Covid inquiry, so that we can ensure the necessary lessons are learned.

“A culture of secrecy cannot be allowed to continue – it’s time for full disclosure.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are co-operating fully with the Scottish and UK Covid public inquiries and, where requested, have provided material held. We will continue to do so wherever possible, to provide the inquiry with any documentation or communications, including messages.

“The inquiries are issuing their requests for information in confidence – allowing both inquiries to conduct their work without interference or undue pressure that may arise from their undertakings being made public prematurely. Disclosing information on any such requests, either directly or indirectly, could undermine the work of the inquiries and damage the relationship between the inquiries and the Scottish Government.

“To be absolutely clear, it is entirely open to – and wholly a matter for – the independent inquiry chairs to determine how they consider and, where appropriate, publish such material.”