Skip to content

Were vital Covid WhatsApps deleted to avoid Freedom of Information rules?

Evidence seen by the inquiry shows senior Scottish figures reminding each other to delete communications

Were vital Covid WhatsApps deleted to avoid Freedom of Information rules?
Jason Leitch, the national clinical director for Scotland, leaves the UK Covid Inquiry on Tuesday | Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Published:

One of Scotland’s top medical advisers has denied intentionally deleting crucial pandemic communications in an attempt to hide them from the public.

The UK’s Covid inquiry is now into its second week of hearing about how the Holyrood devolved administration handled the crisis.

Attention has increasingly focused on messages between senior figures and a controversial policy that encouraged them to be deleted.