The Unveiling of a Contentious Text Conversation Between Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson During the Covid-19 Inquiry in Scotland

The Covid-19 inquiry in Scotland has recently unearthed a contentious text conversation between former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The exchange, which took place during the early months of the pandemic, has shed light on the strained relationship between the two leaders and their differing approaches to managing the crisis.

The text conversation was revealed during the inquiry’s proceedings on January 25, 2024, by BBC Scotland News reporter Angus Cochrane. According to the report, the conversation took place on October 31, 2020, the same evening that Boris Johnson announced a fresh lockdown for England. In the messages, Nicola Sturgeon expressed her frustration and disdain for Johnson’s handling of the situation, referring to him as a “clown.”

The text conversation began with Nicola Sturgeon describing Johnson’s address to the nation as “excruciating” and his communications as “awful.” She went on to express her offense on behalf of politicians everywhere due to Johnson’s “utter incompetence.” Her chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, echoed Sturgeon’s sentiments, stating that she was offended on behalf of all special advisers. Sturgeon responded by calling Johnson a “clown.”

Lloyd explained that the Scottish government had to “mitigate” the chaos in the UK government because, although the restrictions did not apply in Scotland, they had an effect on how people north of the border viewed the pandemic. She noted that engagement with Johnson became “pointless” during this period.

The text conversation provided further insight into the relationship between Sturgeon and Johnson during the pandemic. Liz Lloyd had previously described Cobra, the UK government’s emergency response committee, as a “shambles.” There was better communication between the two governments, particularly on health, but discussions with the prime minister “didn’t get us anywhere.”

Johnson was quizzed about his relationship with Sturgeon during his appearance before the Covid inquiry in December. He maintained that they had a friendly relationship. However, Lloyd’s testimony and the text conversation suggest that the relationship was much harder during the pandemic.

The text conversation is just one of many revelations to come from the Covid-19 inquiry in Scotland. The inquiry has also heard testimony from current First Minister Humza Yousaf, who announced an externally-led review into the Scottish government’s use of mobile messaging apps. Yousaf conceded that there were “challenges” in relation to how the app is used in government and acknowledged that the handling of requests for WhatsApp messages had not given bereaved families confidence.

The inquiry has also heard that Ms Sturgeon did not keep any of her WhatsApp messages, but copies of some of them have been retrieved and handed to the inquiry last year. Chief Medical Officer Gregor Smith and National Clinical Director Jason Leitch regularly deleted WhatsApps during the pandemic and encouraged others to do so, stating that they were following Scottish government policy and that records about decision-making were properly archived.

The inquiry has also been criticized for its focus on independence rather than tackling the virus. Ms Lloyd and others argue that this is grossly unfair, but they do acknowledge that a lack of powers over Scotland’s finances and external borders hampered their ability to respond effectively.

The text conversation between Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson is just one piece of the puzzle in understanding the complexities of Scotland’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The inquiry is expected to continue uncovering more information in the coming weeks, shedding light on the decisions made during this critical time and the relationships between key players in Scottish and UK politics.

In conclusion, the text conversation between Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson during the Covid-19 inquiry in Scotland has provided valuable insight into the strained relationship between the two leaders and their differing approaches to managing the crisis. The conversation, along with other revelations from the inquiry, will continue to shape the narrative around Scotland’s response to the pandemic and the role of key players in Scottish and UK politics.