By Tpny O’Riley-
Nicola Sturgeeon has called for a four -nations inquiry into the coronavirus to begin this year.
The First Minister said she had already committed to an inquiry covering Scotland in 2021, but said a UK-wide inquiry could also look at issues affecting each nation.
The SNP’s election manifesto says there should be a “person-centred” public inquiry that would hear from those who have lost loved ones to the virus.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I am committed to establishing in Scotland a judge-led public inquiry to examine all aspects of our handling of the pandemic – including the situation in our care homes – and to have this under way before the end of this year.
“This will happen in Scotland whether or not it happens in other parts of the UK.
“However, there is no doubt it would be beneficial to have an inquiry that could look across the four nations as well as at specific issues within each nation – this would help provide answers to families, businesses and all those who have made sacrifices over the last year.
“I hope all governments across the UK will join me in committing to a full public inquiry starting later this year.”
Last month, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that the government would hold an inquiry “as soon as it’s right to do so, as soon as it wouldn’t be an irresponsible diversion of the energies of the key officials involved”.
He added: “We are of course committed to an inquiry to learn the lessons, to make sure that something like this can never happen again.” liberal Democrats are pushing to prevent the PM from kicking an inquiry into the long grass, with Sir Keir Starmer pushing for it to start as soon as the roadmap out of lockdown ends on 21 June.
But the UK prime minister has argued that an immediate inquiry into the pandemic would be irresponsible and divert attention and resources away from fighting the virus.
However families of the bereaved are eager for a speedy inquiry, mainly to hold the government to account for the way it dealt wit the pandemic.
High on the agenda of those calling for an inquiry, are questions regarding why covid -10 patients from care homes in hospitals were sent back to care homes. There are also many people who believe the UK government took too long to impose a national lockdown .