Humza Yousaf: Challenging Nicola Sturgeon was like taking a bullet
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Humza Yousaf complained that rowing with Nicola Sturgeon was like taking a bullet, the Covid Inquiry heard.
The First Minister said his predecessor ranted at him during a cabinet meeting when he said he had found an extra £100 million in the coffers to help businesses as the Scottish Government was considering another lockdown.
WhatsApp messages shown to the inquiry between Mr Yousaf and Professor Jason Leitch, the National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government, on Dec 14 2021, show the then-health secretary Mr Yousaf telling Professor Leitch that Nicola Sturgeon was “ranting” at him.
During evidence from John Swinney, Ms Sturgeon’s former deputy, the Inquiry heard that Professor Leitch told Mr Yousaf that the former First Minister was being “ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous” and that he “almost intervened” to “deflect for you (Mr Yousaf)”.
Mr Yousaf said he “took (sic) a hell of a bullet” at the cabinet meeting by making the suggestion and that Ms Sturgeon was “not remotely happy” about his idea and the late stage at which it had come.
“I took a hell of a bullet at Cabinet (!),” he wrote.
“But might be able to strengthen the measures, even if its just slightly. We think we can find £100m within the portfolio not sure if thats enough but I’ve pushed to ask if it is enough to move limits on gatherings in households and hospitality into regs for a least the next 4 weeks.”
He later added: “Don’t know if it will happen this last minute and FM not remotely happy its this last stage but let’s see if it strengthens a package of measures that are too weak as things stand.”
Professor Leitch, who was watching the meeting, then replied: “I was listening. I almost intervened to deflect for you. She was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.”
Mr Yousaf later said “that’s just the way it is” and that “her ranting at me isn’t the problem”.
Asked about the messages, Mr Swinney denied that cabinet meetings were “driven by Nicola Sturgeon’s strong mindedness” and disagreed that challenging her was “seen as taking a bullet”.
Jamie Dawson KC, counsel to the Inquiry, asked Mr Swinney: “Do these messages not show the culture of the Scottish cabinet were driven by Nicola Sturgeon’s strong mindedness when challenging her was seen as taking a bullet?”
Mr Swinney replied: “No, because I think that particular morning, the First Minister was a little bit surprised that the health portfolio had been able to find £100 million to transfer to business support.
“In all my 10 years of handling the public finances of Scotland, the health secretary never offered me £100 million in exchange for anything.”
The Inquiry had earlier heard the account of Kate Forbes, the former finance secretary, of the meeting.
Ms Forbes was shown an exchange of WhatsApp messages between her and Alyson Stafford, the director general of the Scottish Exchequer, on Dec 14 2021, where they discussed the “awkward” and “embarrassing” cabinet meeting.
Ms Forbes wrote in the messages that it was “news” to her and Ms Sturgeon, and that she had never seen the former First Minister “this angry in all my cabinets”.
Ms Forbes also told the Inquiry of her surprise that the Scottish Government’s gold command meetings of senior figures responding to Covid were not minuted and that she had not been invited.
Baroness Hallett, the Inquiry chairman, asked Ms Forbes why, given her senior position within the Scottish Government, she was not at the meetings.
“I wasn’t aware. I am not even sure I was aware they existed,” she replied before Lady Hallett asked if she would have expected to be invited.
“I would have expected to be invited to any meeting where there were significant financial implications,” Ms Forbes replied.
The Inquiry continues.
