Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray has challenged the UK Government to back a judge-led inquiry into the handling of Covid-19 in Scotland.
The Shadow Scottish Secretary said grieving families deserved answers from both governments after a catalogue of mistakes during the pandemic.
At Scotland Questions in the House of Commons, Murray said: “These are some of the major issues, from border closures and PPE to care homes and testing, where both governments failed at critical moments.”
His demand for a Scotland specific judge-led inquiry follows Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s demand for an urgent inquiry at First Minister’s Questions.
Speaking after exchanges in the House of Commons, Murray said revelations by Dominic Cummings of the UK government handling of the pandemic and recently disclosed information on the Scottish government strategy of keeping an initial outbreak of Covid-19 in Edinburgh hidden demanded answers.
Murray said: “In recent weeks, we have heard scathing criticisms from the Prime Minister’s former chief advisor about the UK Government’s Covid response. The failures he exposed no doubt cost lives.
“We’ve even learned the PM described his Health Secretary as being ‘hopeless’.
“Their dither and delay on securing borders has resulted in restrictions continuing. Sadly, the people of Scotland have also been failed by Scottish Government choices."
He added: "We know from a recent FOI reply that the Scottish Chief Medical Officer advised the Scottish Government ‘not to say anything’ in response to the Edinburgh Nike conference outbreak. The Scottish public were kept in the dark costing lives.
“So the UK Government should get behind calls for an urgent separate Scottish judge-led public inquiry into both governments’ management of Covid in Scotland, so we can learn the lessons and grieving families can get the answers they deserve.”
