Covid families' outrage as SNP buys Nicola Sturgeon flowers after her inquiry 'trauma'

Relatives say the gesture is a ‘crassly insensitive insult’

Families of Covid victims spoke of their ­outrage last night after the SNP sent Nicola Sturgeon flowers because of her ‘difficult time’ giving evidence at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

In what has been branded a ‘crassly insensitive insult’ to grieving relatives, both the former First Minister and her former deputy John Swinney received large mixed bouquets from SNP HQ in the wake of their shambolic appearances in front of the inquiry’s legal panel in Edinburgh.

Last night one deeply distressed relative said: ‘The only flowers my mother got was a wreath for her grave.’

Nicola Sturgeon was sent flowers by SNP after her Covid inquiry grilling

Another said: ‘This is a joke. It is utterly dis­respectful to us and all of the other families.’

SNP insiders claimed the party had purchased the flowers because Ms Sturgeon and Mr Swinney had endured painful cross-examinations and may have been left deflated and traumatised.

The senior Nationalists were grilled at the end of January and at the start of this month over their decision to delete WhatsApp messages in the midst of the deadly health crisis.

During intense questioning, it was revealed they, and others, had wiped correspondence about the pandemic – despite Ms Sturgeon promising to hand over all relevant information.

However, the SNP did not send flowers to former finance secretary Kate Forbes – who also gave evidence but did not delete her WhatsApp messages.

Following the evidence sessions one group of enraged families threatened to report former SNP leader Ms Sturgeon to the police amid accusations she had committed a ‘shocking betrayal’ of the people of Scotland.

Last night Jackie Marlow, who is part of a group of relatives suing her late mother’s care home following her death in April 2020, said: ‘I’m so angry flowers were sent to them. The only flowers my mum got was a wreath.

‘During my mum’s last weeks in that care home I would have loved nothing more than to visit and take her flowers but I was repeatedly denied that opportunity. There was no compassion shown by the Scottish Government when they made rules that kept families apart.

‘And there was certainly no compassion when Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney deleted their messages to cover their own backs.’

Ms Marlow added: ‘It feels as though they are being rewarded for negligence instead of being open about what they discussed.’

Scottish Tory party chairman Craig Hoy said: ‘Grieving families will rightfully be appalled at this revelation. This is a crassly insensitive insult to the bereaved and those who suffered as a result of repugnant decisions made by Nicola ­Sturgeon and her government.’

News of the bouquets comes as First Minister Humza Yousaf told a podcast interview how he had called his predecessor after her appearance on the witness stand.

Sturgeon giving evidence at the COVID-19 Inquiry

Kate Forbes was snubbed despite keeping all her messages

Speaking to Pod Save the UK he said he found it ‘very hard’ to watch and added: ‘She found it difficult. I spoke to her to see how she was because Nicola is still my colleague. I’ve got a job to make sure my colleague’s wellbeing is OK.’

After hearing of the flower deliveries, one ‘incensed’ SNP source last night said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney were rewarded, basically, for deleting WhatsApps, while Kate Forbes, who did everything right, did not merit flowers.

‘SNP members are paying money every month to the party and they spend it on flowers for them, when Kate was the one who did the right thing. The flowers were sent because they had a difficult time – because they deleted WhatsApps.

‘Many of us in the party are incandescent with rage.’

Ms Sturgeon is said to have ­written a thank you note to the SNP group for their gift in the wake of her examination.

That is despite her testimony raising questions over the legality of her actions.

This newspaper told how bereaved relatives instructed lawyers to make a police complaint against Ms Sturgeon and others –including Mr Swinney and national clinical director Jason Leitch – following the revelations that they destroyed key messages.

Ms Sturgeon claimed in August 2021 that she would supply all relevant material to the inquiry but Jamie Dawson, KC, the inquiry’s lead counsel, revealed she hadn’t kept a single WhatsApp message.

Under the Inquiries Act 2005, it is a criminal offence if someone ‘intentionally alters or destroys a relevant document’.

The deleted messages are also being probed by the Information Commissioner, who is expected to look at any potential breaches of the Freedom of Information Act.

An SNP spokesman said: ‘Our deepest condolences go out to every person who suffered a bereavement during the pandemic.’