Delete the messages every day

Medical chief told team to wipe data, emojis and cannabis joke

- CHRIS McCALL

SCOTLAND’S top medic told colleagues to delete WhatsApp messages every day after they shared jokes about cannabis at the height of the pandemic. 

Chief medical officer Professor Gregor Smith gave the advice after his deputy had asked “hope this isn’t FOI-able” – referring to freedom of information requests.

He also quipped about having his “own supply” of the drug.

A transcript of the WhatsApp conversation between senior public health officials was shared by the UK Covid Inquiry in Edinburgh yesterday.

Smith became a familiar face to millions of Scots by regularly appearing alongside Nicola Sturgeon at Covid media briefings.

The UK Covid Inquiry is examining how Westminster and devolved governments responded to the pandemic.

But the issue of WhatsApp messages not being retained for later examination has become the source of a major political row.