Boris branded 'f****** clown' by Sturgeon in messages on WhatsApp

NICOLA Sturgeon branded Boris Johnson a "f****** clown" in a series of messages during the then Prime Minister's "excruciating" announcement of a second national lockdown for England, the Covid inquiry heard.

- Katie Harris

WhatsApps between the ex-First Minister for Scotland and her chief of staff Liz Lloyd also show Ms Sturgeon claiming the Scottish Government did "not get nearly enough credit for how much better than them we are".

The messages, revealed as Ms Lloyd gave evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry yesterday, show Ms Sturgeon attacked Mr Johnson for "utter incompetence" which was "offending me on behalf of politicians everywhere". The remarks on October 31 2020 include Ms Lloyd saying he was using "15 minutes between the rugby and Strictly to lock the country up".