Ms Sturgeon’s mass deletion of her WhatsApps comes after her “assurance” in a live TV briefing that nothing would be off limits to the inquiry.
The disappearance of her original messages may or may not be significant. We will never know.
It certainly could be argued that it undermines her position of being completely open in a time of the biggest crisis this country has faced in decades.
Amid scathing criticism from the bereaved in recent weeks, Ms Sturgeon issued a statement insisting the inquiry had copies of some exchanges.
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We now know those are likely to be the same WhatsApps handed over by her former chief of staff Liz Lloyd. No informal messages exist for the months covering the first lockdown in 2020.
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Sturgeon brands Johnson ‘clown’ in texts
Sturgeon insists government business not routinely conducted over text
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Ms Sturgeon insists she did not routinely conduct government business over text messages.
The question is whether the word “routinely” is doing a lot of heavy lifting given exchanges reveal her agreeing to a “good old fashioned rammy” with the UK government over furlough “to think about something other than sick people”.
Other messages show discussions over tweaking the numbers allowed to attend funerals.
The wiping of WhatsApps has been defended under the cloak of following the government’s security policy.
Image: Nicola Sturgeon at Holyrood during the pandemic in 2021. Pic: PA
The problem is some officials, including Ms Sturgeon’s chief advisor Ms Lloyd, say they were not aware such a policy existed. It seems there has been a patchwork of the policy being applied.
Some will say the vanishing of data is tantamount to destruction of evidence and the protection of personal reputation over transparency.
The COVID bereaved have said they will wait until the conclusion of today’s showdown before considering a criminal complaint to Police Scotland. Today carries significant implications and expectations.
Jeffrey Epstein led two different lives – sex offender and celebrity networker – and he did that in the UK as well as the US.
The newly released Epstein documents reveal, in particular, how the paedophile financier ascended into the highest levels of British society.
This photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sprawled across the lap of several women, whose identities have been protected, speaks to his close relationship with Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for child sex trafficking and other offences in connection with Epstein. But the furnishings are even more revealing.
Image: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell. Note: inclusion in Epstein files does not infer wrongdoing
Sky News matched the fireplace in this photo with the one in Sandringham, the estate where the royals tend to spend Christmas – (Andrew is not invited this year).
Andrew has vigorously denied any accusations against him.
Image: Prince Charles, now King Charles III, at Sandringham with Prince Edward. Pic: PA
Also included in the latest release are Epstein’s flight records. They provide some useful corroborating evidence.
Image: A flight log from the Epstein files
On 9 March 2001, his plane landed at “EGGW” – Luton Airport – with JE, GM and VR on board – Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Virginia Roberts, better known by her married name of Virginia Giuffre and perhaps Epstein’s most famous accuser.
The next day is when this photo was alleged to have been taken, in London, of Giuffre and Andrew.
Image: Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, aged 17, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Ghislaine Maxwell’s townhouse in London, in March 2001
Image: Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell hunting, date unknown. Pic: US DoJ
Other photos show Maxwell on the steps of Downing Street – and power was as much a draw as celebrity.
Image: Ghislaine Maxwell outside 10 Downing Street, date unknown. Pic: US DoJ
On 15 May 2002, the flight records show Epstein again arriving at Luton.
Image: A flight log from the Epstein files
The next day is when he met Tony Blair, prime minister at the time. This was before Epstein’s first arrest and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.
The meeting was arranged by Peter Mandelson, who lost his job as ambassador to the US because of his Epstein connections, and who features prominently in the files.
Image: Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein. Pic: US DoJ
The UK was a draw for Epstein’s wider circle too – Maxwell here is pictured touring the Churchill War Rooms with Bill Clinton and Kevin Spacey. Neither are accused of wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
Image: (L-R) Ghislaine Maxwell, Kevin Spacey and Bill Clinton, with three other men. Pic: US DoJ
And the other grim life that Epstein led, of sex trafficking, also had British links.
Image: A page from the Epstein files
Another document released in the files, from 2019, shows witness testimony from Maxwell’s trial. In it, a victim is mentioned who is “17 years old” and who grew up “in England”. She would later be taken to Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
Police have launched a murder investigation after a 55-year-old man was shot dead in London.
Officers were called at 9.35pm on Friday 19 December to reports of a shooting in West End Close, Brent.
Emergency first aid was given to a 55-year-old man, who died at the scene.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Team, who is leading the investigation, said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim at this incredibly difficult time.
“Enquiries are well under way, and my team is working at pace to determine the circumstances that led to this man’s tragic death.
“There’s no doubt this incident will cause concern in the local community and more widely, but we have increased patrols in the area. I’d like to reassure the public that our investigation remains a priority.
“I would urge anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information, including dashcam footage, that will assist us with our enquiries to contact us at the earliest opportunity.
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“We also believe there was a large group of people congregated nearby at the time the incident happened, and we are keen to hear from them.”
At the early stage of the investigation, no arrests have been made.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Police have announced a £20,000 reward in the hunt for the killers of a man in north London in March.
Mahad Abdi Mohamed, 27, died after being shot in the head in Waverley Road, Tottenham at 8.45pm on 20 March, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Met, which announced the reward from the independent charity Crimestoppers, said officers believed the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.
Police now want to speak to two people in connection with the incident.
DCI Rebecca Woodsford, who is leading the investigation, said: “There is someone out there who knows what happened that night, and we are urging those individuals to find it in their heart to come forward. It could be exactly what we need to locate those responsible.”
Image: Images of the two people police would like to speak to. Pics: Metropolitan Police
A targeted attack
Police believe the suspects, who got out of a stolen Mitsubishi Outlander, which was later recovered burned out, were taking part in a targeted attack.
On the night of the murder, Mahad had spent the early evening with his friend at their home.
They were breaking their fast outside when the Mitsubishi Outlander approached and the suspects opened fire, striking Mahad and his friend multiple times.
Mahad’s 26-year-old friend received treatment for a gunshot wound to his leg.
The force suspects another stolen vehicle, a blue Jaguar, was used to transport the suspects to and from the Mitsubishi.
Image: The stolen cars from the night. Pics: Metropolitan Police
Police arrested four adult men in March and April on suspicion of murder, who were subsequently bailed.
The investigation so far has led officers to believe whoever killed Mahad set out to hurt someone else in a pre-planned, targeted attack.
Appealing to the public for information, Mahad’s youngest sister said: “To stay silent is to be complicit. To stay silent is to let a grieving mother suffer in confusion. To stay silent is to let a little boy grow up not knowing what happened to his father.”
Image: Pic: Metropolitan Police
The reward, which is offered for information that leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible, is available for three months and is due to expire on 20 March 2026.