Scottish Covid inquiry plans spur calls for other parts of UK to follow suit

Nicola Sturgeon confirms judge-led, human rights-based inquiry to begin by end of year

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Scotland will establish its own judge-led public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic by the end of the year, adding to pressure on the UK, Welsh and Northern Irish governments to show leadership", according to relatives who lost loved ones to the virus.

Confirming the announcement at her Covid briefing, the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said she believed it was appropriate to start the statutory inquiry as soon as possible" and that Scotland's lord advocate had begun discussions to appoint a judge.