Nicola Sturgeon blasted by Covid inquiry for 'soap box' performance after blaming Brexit
Former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon leaves after giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry at Dorland House in London
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Nicola Sturgeon was criticised by a top lawyer at the Covid inquiry after claiming Brexit diverted resources which would have better prepared Scotland for the pandemic.
The former First Minister, who was recently released by Police Scotland pending further inquiries in its Operation Branchform probe, was pulled up by Hugo Keith KC after rambling on about the wider consequences of the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.
Sturgeon was keen to stress how planning for a so-called ‘no-deal’ Brexit diverted resources away from preparing for an eventual coronavirus pandemic.
She said: “I think every aspect of Brexit has been a false economy, if I can put it mildly but that’s another issue altogether.”
Nicola Sturgeon seated at the Covid Inquiry
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Keith interjected: “Ms Sturgeon, I am so sorry, that is a witness box, not a soap box.
“We cannot allow the political debate of Brexit to be ventilated here.”
Sturgeon went on to express her “deep regret” at deviating certain resources, particularly following the release of the Treasury’s Operation Yellowhammer dossier.
The former First Minister, who only resigned from Bute House in February, replied: “Indeed.”
Nicola SturgeonPA“With respect, I think you’re asking me questions here that are very germane to the whole issue.
“So, yes, I think it was deeply regrettable resources had to be diverted from any other area of work - and, in particular, pandemic preparedness.”
She also claimed: "Brexit was obviously something happening completely against the will of the Scottish Government, so we were not at all happy about what we were having to do.
"To put it bluntly, we had no choice, because had a no-deal Brexit happened - and there were periods over 2019 where that was a distinct possibility - the consequences of that would have been very, very severe."
Nicola Sturgeon exiting a vehicle to arrive at the Covid Inquiry
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The inquiry, which is being chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, is examining the response to the pandemic in relation to public health, the economy and the health sector.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron and ex-Chancellor George Osborne have also appeared before the inquiry.
Matthew Hancock, who served as Health Secretary during the pandemic, contradicted Sturgeon’s comments during his grilling earlier this week.
The West Suffolk MP, who campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU in 2016, claimed preparations for a WTO-style departure helped bolster supply chains when crucial medicines were “within hours of running out”.
Matt Hancock served as Health Secretary during the coronavirus pandemic
Matt DunhamHancock said: “The work done for a no-deal Brexit on supply chains was the difference between running out of medicines in the peak of the pandemic and not running out.
“We came extremely close within hours of running out of medicines for intensive care during the pandemic, it wasn’t widely reported at the time.
“I think the only reason we didn’t run out is because of [that] work … which they did during 2019 in preparation for a no-deal Brexit but became extremely useful in saving lives during the pandemic.”