COVID inquiry: Nicola Sturgeon branded Boris Johnson a ‘clown’ in foul-mouthed messages during pandemic

Nicola Sturgeon described Boris Johnson as a “clown” during the pandemic, a series of foul-mouthed messages shown to the COVID inquiry has revealed.

The exchange between the former first minister and her chief of staff Liz Lloyd took place on 31 October 2020 as the then prime minister appeared on TV to announce the second national lockdown.

Ms Sturgeon hit out at the UK government’s communications, stating: “This is f****** excruciating – their comms are awful.

“His utter incompetence in every sense is now offending me on behalf of politicians everywhere.”

Ms Lloyd said she was “offended” on behalf of special advisers everywhere.

Ms Sturgeon replied: “He is a f****** clown.”

Ms Lloyd’s evidence comes amid ongoing scrutiny over messages exchanged by ministers and officials during the pandemic.

Usman Tariq, junior counsel to the inquiry, highlighted an exchange made on 22 September 2020.

In a message sent to Ms Lloyd just two hours before a briefing in light of differing Westminster regulations, Ms Sturgeon said: “We haven’t thought about weddings. They are reducing but not sure what to.”

Special adviser Ms Lloyd responded they should “just leave it” as the Scottish government had recently increased the number of guests allowed to 20.

Mr Tariq asked: “Is this not an example of a decision that was made very much at the last minute over WhatsApp between you and Nicola Sturgeon?”

Ms Lloyd said she did not view this as making a decision because it had already been made in cabinet.

She refuted a suggestion the message implied the decision was “made on the hoof”, arguing that sticking with the numbers determined earlier via scientific evidence was a “more coherent” position.

Ms Lloyd was said to be in favour of telling the public about a Nike conference in Edinburgh, the location of Scotland’s first recognised outbreak of the virus.

Then chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood strongly advised against it, citing patient confidentiality.

Ms Lloyd said she had “no recollection” of reading the Scottish government’s policy of deleting informal messages after decisions had been made.

She also said she regretted not being able to provide messages prior to 1 September 2020, stating: “I thought I had them. I have sourced them, I have done everything that I am able to do as far as I can to find them.

“I thought I had retained them, and they’re not there.”

She explained that she’s not the “best administrator of devices”, adding: “I can’t say whether I actively deleted them, I can’t say whether they got lost. I don’t know.”

The inquiry was also shown a document from July 2020 where Brexit and Scottish independence were referenced.

In the cabinet meeting it was agreed that consideration should be given to “restarting work on independence”.

Lady Hallett, chair of the inquiry, questioned whether it looked like the “politicisation of the coronavirus pandemic” to advance the cause of independence.

Ms Lloyd replied: “It says consideration was given to this but was not done at this time.”

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The inquiry is currently sitting in Edinburgh as it probes the devolved administration’s response to the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon will appear at the inquiry next Wednesday.

Ms Lloyd’s appearance came ahead of First Minister Humza Yousaf, who was giving evidence on Thursday afternoon.

Earlier in the week, the inquiry was shown a WhatsApp exchange in November 2021 between then health secretary Mr Yousaf and national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch.

At the time, COVID rules in Scotland meant people would not have to wear a mask if they were sitting down to eat or drink, but would if they were moving around a bar or restaurant while not drinking.

Ahead of an event, Mr Yousaf messaged: “I know sitting at the table I don’t need my mask. If I’m standing talking to folk, need my mask on?”

Mr Leitch responded: “Officially yes. But literally no one does. Have a drink in your hands at all times. Then you’re exempt. So if someone comes over and you stand, lift your drink.”

Professor Leitch rejected a suggestion that he had offered a “workaround” to the rules, while a spokesperson for Mr Yousaf said the exchange “simply shows the then health secretary seeking specific, up-to-date guidance from a senior adviser to ensure he was complying with the COVID rules”.