By David Wallace LockhartBBC Scotland political correspondent31 January 2024Nicola Sturgeon has been less visible in Scottish politics since stepping down as first minister. However, today’s lengthy evidence session served as a reminder of her central role during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. She is well-versed in this type of setting, accustomed to being questioned and scrutinized, and acknowledged for her communication skills. The focus was on communication throughout much of the full-day session as Ms Sturgeon defended her pandemic approach while addressing some challenging areas.
She confirmed that her pandemic-related messages had been deleted and explained that this was in line with the Scottish government’s guidance to regularly delete messages from phones once significant information had been saved centrally. Critics argue that this policy allows ministers to essentially control what information is retained.
The inquiry also highlighted an exchange where Ms Sturgeon discussed hospitality rules with an advisor, which raised questions about decision-making processes. She clarified that these discussions took place in more formal settings as well. The inquiry showed some frustration as it seemed to circle back on this point. While the former first minister believes that she has provided all relevant information, others, including bereaved families, feel that the full picture has not been disclosed.
Beyond the messaging issue, the inquiry also focused on Ms Sturgeon’s leadership style. Some believed that she tended to make significant decisions on her own or with a limited group of allies. However, she emphasized that she never sought unlimited authority and expected input from her fellow ministers. Although there is currently internal conflict within the SNP, it’s important to note that this was not the case for most of Ms Sturgeon’s time leading the party.
There were emotional moments during the session as Ms Sturgeon expressed her regret over not implementing lockdown measures earlier and the impact on care homes. This highlighted the toll of making decisions that profoundly affect people’s lives. Despite the challenges, her government’s approach to operational decisions during Covid received her strong defense, and she emphasized that she did not attempt to politicize the pandemic and even paused plans for a second independence referendum. However, questions arose regarding cabinet minutes from June 2020 suggesting a consideration to restart work on independence, which she had to explain in the context of the ongoing Brexit negotiations.
Ms Sturgeon was also candid about her strained relationship with Boris Johnson, expressing her belief that he was not the right leader for handling the pandemic and that she found him challenging to work with. Her evidence today resembled her daily TV briefings during the pandemic, reflecting her government’s decision-making and the thinking behind their conclusions. Despite her explanations, there are still concerns about the deleted phone messages and the completeness of the information provided. Overall, she conveyed that she did her best in incredibly challenging circumstances, but many will feel that some key questions remain unanswered even after an entire day of questioning.
