Inquiry Critiques Sturgeon Government’s Pandemic Response

A recent inquiry report has sharply criticized the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic by the government of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The report, part of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, concluded that the Scottish Government’s approach was marked by a lack of preparedness and a failure to respond effectively to the crisis.

The inquiry found that Sturgeon’s government implemented an “inappropriate” zero-Covid strategy, which ultimately proved ineffective. According to Baroness Heather Hallett, who chaired the inquiry, both the Scottish and UK governments acted “too little, too late” in their pandemic responses. The extensive report spans over 700 pages and includes detailed assessments of the decisions made during the crisis.

In a statement summarizing her findings, Hallett said: “I can summarise my findings as ‘too little, too late.’” This assessment follows weeks of testimonies from key figures involved in the pandemic response, including Sturgeon, John Swinney, and Humza Yousaf.

The report highlighted significant failures in the government’s planning and response strategies. It pointed out that the political rivalry between Sturgeon and then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson resulted in a “constant tension” that hindered effective cooperation between the UK and Scottish governments. The inquiry indicated that such political antipathy was detrimental to the public interest.

The inquiry also revealed that informal decision-making structures, such as unminuted “Gold Command” meetings, led to a decline in transparency within the Scottish cabinet. Sturgeon and Swinney made critical decisions, such as school closures, without sufficient input from other ministers, effectively sidelining the cabinet’s role in governance.

The findings are particularly poignant given that Scotland recorded 13,429 deaths attributed to Covid-19 between 2020 and 2022. Aamer Anwar, representing the Scottish Covid Bereaved group, expressed deep concerns about the governments’ decisions, stating, “The four governments gambled with the lives of our citizens.” He emphasized that the failure to adhere to scientific advice early in the pandemic made subsequent lockdowns inevitable and resulted in a tragic death toll.

Hallett emphasized that the devolved administrations, while entitled to rely on UK government guidance, became overly dependent on that response, which left them unprepared for the pandemic’s challenges. She stated that by mid-February 2020, the governments “knew enough to spur them into action,” but their lack of urgency during critical periods was “inexplicable.”

The inquiry’s findings call for urgent reforms in the decision-making processes during emergency situations. Hallett has proposed 19 key recommendations aimed at improving the structures within each of the four UK governments to ensure better preparedness for future crises.

In conclusion, the inquiry underscores the critical need for effective governance and collaborative efforts during public health emergencies. The report serves as a reminder of the importance of timely and informed decision-making in safeguarding public health.