Covid in Scotland: Victims' families invited to shape public inquiry

Jo Goodman holding a picture of her father, who died with coronavirus, at a Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice event in London

Families who have lost loved ones to Covid have met Scottish government ministers to discuss a future public inquiry.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf held talks with members of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice.

The group's lawyer said the MSPs took on board the demands of the group.

The families were invited to contribute to the terms of reference of any public inquiry.

A total of 8,032 people have died in Scotland after testing positive.

So far, 10,421 deaths have been registered where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate.

In May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs an independent public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic would be held in spring 2022.

But Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for a four-nations inquiry into the global health crisis by the end of the year.

She previously said the way elderly people were discharged from hospital and into care homes in the early stages of the pandemic was a mistake.

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The Scottish branch of the justice group is being represented by human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar.

'Robust discussion'

He said the families were grateful to Mr Swinney and the Mr Yousaf for listening to them at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh.

He said a "robust discussion" took place as to the problems that the Scottish government had encountered.

Mr Anwar said: "Today the Scottish families pushed for the greatest scrutiny, accountability and transparency through a Scottish public inquiry which must not be delayed any longer.

"It is increasingly clear to the bereaved families that they can have no confidence in a UK government that continues to delay a public inquiry. "

The families were joined by lawyer Aamer Anwar at St Andrew's House

He said that many families throughout Scotland had seen their loves ones taken by Covid, and that their families must now be allowed to speak for them.

He called for an inquiry to start to take shape immediately, when families are asking whether deaths could have been avoided, and what could prevent it happening again.

'Gave families hope'

Mr Anwar added: "For a public inquiry to be effective and meaningful, grieving Scottish families must be at the heart of the inquiry process to get to the truth of what happened and that can only really happen with a Scottish public inquiry.

"Today, the Scottish government gave the families hope that the quest for accountability and truth would not be shut down and they are kept front and centre of any Covid-19 public inquiry."

Mr Anwar highlighted that MSPs had voted for an inquiry and a commitment to make a decision within 100 days of government was made in the SNP manifesto.

That timeframe runs out on 25 August and Deputy First Minister John Swinney told the families the decision the Scottish government will make is imminent.

Mr Anwar also said that, as well as families having input into the terms of reference, the chairperson and an expert panel was also key to an inquiry. He said the experience of the bereaved families must be at the heart of a public inquiry.

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