Home
AI
World
Politics
Health
Crime & justice
Science & technology
Social issues
Sports
Money
Entertainment
Environment/energy
Military
Culture
Weather
Media






Home
Bias Split
Public FiguresControversies

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up!
Sign Up Now!

How our sliders workAboutContact UsNewsletter Archive
MediaFAQGlossaryPrivacy Policy
  1. Home

UK COVID Inquiry: Scottish First Ministers Accused of Deleting WhatsApp Messages

  • #Politics
  • #Spain
  • #Ireland
  • #United Kingdom
  • #COVID-19
  • #Communication
UK COVID Inquiry: Scottish First Ministers Accused of Deleting WhatsApp Messages
story
OCT 2023
Image copyright: Jane Barlow-Pool/Getty Images [via Getty Images]
story last updated JUN 2024

The Spin

Narrative A

Proper records of communication between ministers and officials must be kept for the purposes of governmental accountability. The erasure of WhatsApp messages has blurred the whole process of the COVID inquiry, raising extensive questions over who made what decisions as well as how they were reached. If government actions cannot be accurately accounted for, those at the heart of Westminster and Holyrood should face more intense scrutiny over the pandemic.

The Telegraph

Narrative B

While the revelations coming out of the COVID inquiry are currently making headlines, the media will likely lose interest by the time it reaches the meaningful point of proposing changes to governmental process. Inquiries are designed, not necessarily with the aim of holding to account, but certainly with the intention of determining recommendations to aid preparedness and improve structures and cultures in the medium- to long-term. For this inquiry to be meaningful, the UK should focus on rapidly and effectively implementing any recommendations reached by the committee.

Spectator (UK)

Articles on this story

Sturgeon paints herself as perfect at Covid Inquiry
Spectator (UK)JAN 2024
Nicola Sturgeon: I did not use WhatsApp to reach Covid decisions
BBC NewsJAN 2024
Nicola Sturgeon admits she deleted Covid WhatsApp messages
BBC NewsJAN 2024
Scotland ex-leader admits deleting COVID WhatsApp messages but insists no decisions were made on app
Associated PressJAN 2024
Nicola Sturgeon deleted WhatsApps but denies secrecy
BBC NewsJAN 2024
Use of WhatsApp ‘too common’ in Scottish government, Sturgeon says, but was not used for Covid decisions – UK Covid inquiry live
GuardianJAN 2024
Sturgeon admits errors in handling of ‘incredibly stressful’ Covid pandemic
GuardianJAN 2024