Nicola Sturgeon 'deleted' key Covid WhatsApp messages from phone - 'What are they trying to hide?'

Others who have said that the messages can no longer be accessed include current First Minister Humza Yousaf and former Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

All say that the messages were deleted.

WATCH NOW: Nicola Sturgeon's Whatsapp messages deleted

It means that the texts cannot be given to any Covid inquires into how the pandemic was dealt with.

The UK inquiry into the health crisis was told by a lawyer that 70 people were asked to disclose their WhatsApp messages, but most no longer exist.

Just one individual involved – former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman – has supplied messages. However, they are not complete, according to the Daily Record.

Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie has criticised the SNP for the missing messages, accusing the party of being untrustworthy.

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She said: “These bombshell revelations call into question what the SNP government is trying to hide.

“Humza Yousaf said his government would co-operate fully with the Covid inquiries, but this promise has been left in tatters.

“If the top brass of the SNP has been destroying evidence it is a gross betrayal of bereaved families fighting for justice and an insult to all the Scots who made sacrifices during the pandemic.

“The same old SNP culture of secrecy and cover-up isn’t good enough – we need total transparency throughout these inquiries so we can get the answers Scotland deserves.”

It was also revealed that national clinical director Jason Leitch deleted messages every day during the pandemic.

At least 137 WhatsApp groups were being used by the Scottish government during the pandemic.

Aamer Anward, lead solicitor for Scottish Covid Bereaved, told the Daily Record: “The Scottish Covid Bereaved find it inconceivable that not just the likes of Jason Leitch but the most senior figures in the Scottish Government – from former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, former Deputy First Minister John Swinney, to the present First Minister Humza Yousaf – failed to retain their WhatsApp messages over the two-year period of the pandemic.

“At the very least by August 2021, when the Scottish Government announced a public inquiry, someone would have known that all those involved in key decision-making for the pandemic must immediately stop deleting the evidence. The families we represent deserve the truth.”

The Scottish Government said it was committed to working with the inquiries and giving any evidence they requested.

A spokesperson for the government said: “As the first minister has made clear, the Scottish government is wholly committed to co-operating fully with the Covid inquiries. This includes providing any requested material that we hold.”

“More than 13,000 documents from the official record have been sent to the UK Inquiry from the Scottish Government, in addition to the corporate and personal statements requested. Providing the formal decision-making record has been our priority.

“The UK Inquiry has subsequently asked for WhatsApp messages relating to logistics and day-to-day communication, which we are working to provide.”