Humza Yousaf has been urged to answer questions in parliament tomorrow on the escalating Covid deleted WhatsApps scandal, rather than “hide behind his deputy”.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has today submitted a Topical Question to the Presiding Officer demanding that the First Minister explain the Scottish Government’s policy on mobile phone message retention.
He has also written to Nicola Sturgeon requesting a personal statement in parliament from the ex-First Minister following weekend reports that she deleted WhatsApp messages – despite her vow to a journalist at a press conference in August 2021 that these would be disclosed to the inquiry.
Douglas Ross said a parliamentary statement from Deputy First Minister Shona Robison “wouldn’t cut it” and that Humza Yousaf must submit himself and the SNP Government to proper scrutiny.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “It’s unacceptable for the First Minister to hide behind his deputy in the form of a carefully-worded ministerial statement. That won’t cut it.
“Humza Yousaf has serious questions to answer. He was a senior figure in Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet at the time of the pandemic so he must know what her government’s policy was on retaining messages.
“He has a duty to explain what that was – which is why I have submitted a Topical Question to the Presiding Officer today.
“This scandal has grown by the day since I raised it at FMQs on Thursday in the wake of the revelation that morning at the UK Covid Inquiry that SNP ministers had failed to submit messages.
“Since then, we’ve had media reports that the national clinical director Jason Leitch and Nicola Sturgeon deleted WhatsApp messages.
“If true, this is not only unacceptable to bereaved families – who deserve answers on behalf of their loved ones – but potentially illegal.
“That’s why I have written to Nicola Sturgeon requesting she make a personal statement responding to these extremely serious allegations.
“As someone whose reputation is growing more and more tarnished by the day, I trust she will want to clear this matter up as soon as possible.”
Notes
The Topical Question submitted today by Douglas Ross is as follows: “To ask the Scottish Government to outline the First Minister’s policy for all Scottish Ministers, current and former, on mobile phone message retention, following statements made by former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, regarding deleted messages.”
A copy of Douglas Ross’s letter to Nicola Sturgeon is attached.
Nicola Sturgeon’s assurance that all correspondence, including WhatsApp messages, would be submitted to the inquiry can be seen here: https://x.com/C4Ciaran/status/1718577918295597313?s=20