Nicola Sturgeon piles the pressure on Boris Johnson as she says Scotland's Covid inquiry will start THIS YEAR while PM's UK-wide probe will not get underway until Spring 2022
Nicola Sturgeon today announced an independent inquiry into the Scottish Government's handling of the coronavirus crisis will get underway by the end of this year.
The Scottish First Minister said the probe will be judge-led and will be based on a 'person-centred, human rights-based' approach.
The announcement is likely to pile pressure on Boris Johnson, with the Prime Minister having said a UK-wide inquiry will not start until Spring 2022.
Nicola Sturgeon today announced an independent inquiry into the Scottish Government's handling of the coronavirus crisis will get underway by the end of this year
The announcement is likely to pile pressure on Boris Johnson, with the Prime Minister having said a UK-wide inquiry will not start until Spring 2022
Mr Johnson made his inquiry announcement in May of this year and immediately faced demands from Labour and campaigners to bring the date forward.
Ms Sturgeon's move will almost certainly reignite calls for Mr Johnson to act sooner.
A draft of the aims and principles for the Scottish Government's inquiry was published today, with members of the public invited to comment until September 30.
Speaking at a coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said: 'I can confirm it will be established by the end of this year, as promised, and it will take a person-centred, human rights-based approach.'
Scotland's top prosecutor, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC, had begun discussions about appointing a judge to lead the inquiry, the First Minister added.
'It is fully our intention that this will be a judge-led inquiry,' Ms Sturgeon said.
'The inquiry will look at all matters related to the handling of the pandemic that are within our devolved competence, this will include of course the situation in our care homes.'
But she stressed the Scottish Government would 'liaise closely' with the UK Government and other devolved administrations on the likely terms of the UK-wide inquiry.
'It will be important to avoid duplication and overlap,' Ms Sturgeon said.
She added: 'However, the need for co-operation with other governments is not, in my view, a reason to delay the establishment of our own inquiry.'
Mr Johnson promised in May that the key players in the pandemic response will be put 'under the microscope' in the UK-wide inquiry.
The PM said witnesses will give evidence 'in public and under oath' as the nation tries to 'learn lessons' to ensure the UK is 'better prepared' for a future health crisis.
The Government has resisted bringing the probe forward, arguing that ministers and officials still need to focus on the response to the pandemic.
A UK Government spokeswoman said: 'Throughout the pandemic we have been guided by data and scientific advice and have acted quickly and decisively to save lives and livelihoods.
'Every death from this virus is a tragedy and our sympathies are with everyone who has lost loved ones.
'As the Prime Minister said, we have committed to holding a full public inquiry which will start in the spring.'