Aamer Anwar

The decision relates to the disclosure of relevant documents to the UK inquiry, in particular the disclosure of WhatsApp messages, that had been sought for all Scottish ministers as well as Boris Johnson and others.

In a statement, Mr Anwar said: “Despite an unequivocal request by Baroness Hallett, using her statutory power under Section 21 of the 2005 Act, for unredacted copies of a range of documents, consisting of WhatsApp messages, diaries and notebooks, that she considered to be potentially relevant, Cabinet Office took the view that it was permitted to redact what it judged to be ‘unambiguously irrelevant material’ before they were provided to the inquiry.

“This request for the above materials by the inquiry followed our submissions to the UK Covid-19 Public inquiry Preliminary Hearing on the 1st March 2023 when we appeared for the ‘Scottish Covid Bereaved’. On the 28th February it was revealed that 100,000 WhatsApp messages of the former Health Secretary Matt Hancock containing over 2.3 million words were leaked by The Daily Telegraph.

“As we stated to the inquiry on the 1st March, if what is contained within those texts was correct, it showed that ministers of the state at the highest level were making decisions on handling the pandemic via WhatsApp. The allegations were deeply horrifying and upsetting for the families we represent and if true meant that the lives of thousands were considered ‘expendable’.

“It was clear from the leaks that the PM, former PM, cabinet ministers, chief medical officers, scientific advisors, senior civil servants, newspaper editors, Dominic Cummings and even Tony Blair can be found engaging in the messages, as well as discussion of relations with the Scottish government.”

The statement concludes: “No individual, no matter how powerful can be allowed to interfere with the pursuit of truth, justice, and accountability by this inquiry, those who lost their lives to Covid-19 deserve nothing less.”