NICOLA Sturgeon has been accused of a "shocking betrayal" after it emerged that all of her WhatsApp messages during the pandemic had been deleted.
Jamie Dawson KC, counsel to the UK Covid Inquiry, told the probe the former first minister had retained no messages "whatsoever".
The documents also indicate ex-deputy first minister John Swinney's WhatsApp messages were deleted manually or by using the app's auto-delete.
Shocked opposition parties united in condemnation, with Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton comparing Sturgeon with Richard Nixon and calling it one of the biggest scandals" in our political history.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said the "shocking betrayal" shows the lengths Sturgeon "is prepared to go to in order to prevent justice for Covidbereaved families".
Sturgeon's WhatsApp messages during the pandemic would have been critical in explaining why key pandemic decisions were made by the Scottish Government.
Mr Dawson told the inquiry: "Under the box 'Nicola Sturgeon', it says that messages were not retained, they were deleted in routine tidying up of inboxes or changes of phones, unable to retrieve messages.
"What that tends to suggest is, at the time that request was made, the former first minister of Scotland had retained no messages whatsoever in connection with her management of the pandemic."
This story is from the January 20, 2024 edition of Daily Record.
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This story is from the January 20, 2024 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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