South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has commented on the news which revealed during the Covid inquiry that all Nicola Sturgeon’s WhatsApp messages during the pandemic appear to have been deleted.

The former First Minister also came under fire from one of her former SNP MSP colleagues Joan McAlpine, who last week described Nicola Sturgeon as a “fraud” but a “convincing one” following the WhatsApp revelations.

Colin Smyth said: “Millions of Scots deserve answers over what happened during the pandemic, particularly those who lost loved ones.

“The potentially criminal deletion of vital messages threatens to prevent this happening.

“Nicola Sturgeon and all others who engaged in this deceitful and secretive practice should come clean about the reason behind their actions.”