Swinney and SNP 'to blame for virus blunders' as report on UK probe set for release

JOHN Swinney has been accused of complicity in “every shameful mistake” on the pandemic ahead of an inquiry report into Covid.

- BY PAUL HUTCHEON

Scots Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the First Minister should be held to account for being part of the team behind deadly blunders like the care homes scandal.

She said: “It is judgment day for those running the country at the time.”

The UK Covid Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallett, will today publish a key report into the government decision-making after the outbreak of coronavirus.

The response in Scotland was led by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon and her deputy Swinney.

More than 10,000 Scots died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid and about one third of these deaths were in care homes.

The inquiry sessions from last year focussed on some of the most controversial decisions as Scotland went into lockdown in 2020.