FORMER Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon gave evidence to the Covid-19 inquiry today.

Ms Sturgeon, who was also Scotland’s longest-serving health secretary, echoed earlier allegations by former British health secretary Matt Hancock that resources had been diverted from pandemic planning to prepare for a “no-deal Brexit.”

When challenged by counsel on the wisdom of that decision, Ms Sturgeon said: “I think every aspect of Brexit has been a false economy.”

Her comments prompted the lawyer to remind her that “that is a witness box, not a soap box. We cannot allow the political debate of Brexit to be debated here.”

Of the resource diversion, Ms Sturgeon said: “I deeply regret any implications that had for emergency planning in other areas.”

She offered her “sympathies and condolences to all those who suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” adding: “The pandemic may be over, but for many people, their suffering continues and there is not a day that passes that I don’t think about that.”

In a statement on behalf of Scottish Covid Bereaved, the group’s lead solicitor Aamer Anwar said: “For many of the Covid bereaved, the evidence of multiple politicians and senior civil servants has exposed a culture of impunity, denial, arrogance and blaming everyone else but themselves.”

“Many were left aghast by today’s evidence of Jeane Freeman, Scotland’s former health minister, who like UK ministers before her was unable to accept that we failed our front-line workers.

“By the end of March 2021, there had been 3,774 deaths in Scottish care homes.

“It matters not one bit to the bereaved if care home deaths happened in London, Manchester or Glasgow, the policy of discharge of the untested was ultimately a death sentence.

“The families want to know whether the Scottish government blames Westminster or if they were in agreement?”