SWINNEY 'MUST APOLOGISE A FOR SNP COVID FAILINGS'

First Minister urged to 'come clean' over 'catastrophic' pandemic errors

- BY BEN BORLAND

JOHN SWINNEY has been urged to make a public apology at Holyrood for the part he played in the SNP's "catastrophic failings" during the pandemic.

The First Minister, left, refused to say sorry when questioned by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on Thursday, shortly before a damning UK Covid-19 Inquiry report was published.

Although much of the criticism from Lady Hallett was directed at Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Swinney was also singled out for harsh treatment.

He was Deputy First Minister and also Education Secretary at the start of 2020, and he played a major role in almost all decisions - and errors - made at the time.

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said: "John Swinney was given the chance to apologise for deliberately deleting WhatsApp messages during the Covid pandemic. He refused to do so. He was given the opportunity to apologise for his decisions as Education Secretary, such as downgrading the results of working-class kids, and refused to do so.

“And he had the chance to apologise for the Scottish Government's decision to send Covid-positive and untested patients into care homes, despite it being known at the time that older people were more vulnerable to the virus. Again, he refused to do so.”

Dame Jackie continued: “The report published by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has now confirmed beyond any doubt that John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon hoarded power and made crucial decisions without even discussing it with the Scottish Cabinet.