Sturgeon Privately Criticized Johnson's Pandemic Response, Evidence Shows Government Relied on Informal WhatsApp Discussions
• Nicola Sturgeon privately called Boris Johnson “a fucking clown” and criticized his Covid communications as “utter incompetence” • Evidence emerged of Scottish government Covid decision-making happening informally via WhatsApp • Sturgeon's former chief of staff Liz Lloyd had retained WhatsApp messages, unlike Sturgeon who "retained no messages whatsoever" • Lloyd suggested Sturgeon may have deleted messages because as first minister she thought Lloyd would retain anything important • Lloyd expressed frustration with UK government over furlough policy extensions during the pandemic, wanting “a good old-fashioned rammy”