Sturgeon admits errors in handling pandemic

Nicola Sturgeon has admitted failing to properly record key discussions about the pandemic after being pressed at the UK Covid inquiry yesterday over claims that some decisions were too centralised and secretive.

- Severin Carrell , Libby Brooks

The former first minister, who led Scotland's response to the pandemic, pushed back tears as she admitted she found the pressure of the crisis "incredibly stressful", and at times wished she had not been in charge.

"I was the first minister when the pandemic struck," she said, her voice breaking. "There's a large part of me wishes that I hadn't been but I was and I wanted to be the best first minister I could be during that period." During a day-long evidence session, Sturgeon repeatedly denied challenges from Jamie Dawson KC, the inquiry's counsel, about whether she had sought to politicise the pandemic to promote independence.

She was shown an email that appeared to come from the office of her deputy and closest political ally, John Swinney, from July 2020 in which a senior official told Swinney and Sturgeon he was "extremely concerned" about Spain being subject to far tougher travel rules than other countries.

The official said he feared the Spanish government would believe this was "entirely political; they won't forget; there is a real possibility they will never approve EU membership for an independent Scotland".

Sturgeon said she "assumed" she had read the email but rejected the suggestion that she had agreed with it. Travel policy with Spain was decided entirely on "finely balanced" scientific and economic grounds, she said.