Why is the Scottish Covid inquiry going ahead before the UK one?

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, has stolen a march on Boris Johnson again, writes John Rentoul

Sturgeon has promised an inquiry this year (AFP/Getty/EPA)

One possible subtext of Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement of a statutory public inquiry by the end of this year to investigate the handling of the pandemic in Scotland was provided by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. “Boris Johnson should take note that his government can no longer be allowed to hold the process back from asking difficult questions,” said the group in a statement.

The Scottish first minister would never be so explicit, but it is hard to resist the idea that one reason for her announcement was to underline the contrast with the UK prime minister, who has promised a UK-wide inquiry “in the spring of next year”. When Johnson confirmed this timetable in May, he said it would be wrong to “weigh down” scientific advisers and take up “huge amounts of officials’ time” in what might be another rise in cases during the winter.

Such concerns didn’t hold Sturgeon back, allowing her to appear more nimble and more compassionate than the UK government, even if the difference in timing is not as great as it might appear. On Tuesday she announced a consultation on the “aims and principles” of the inquiry that would run to the end of September, so the inquiry itself won’t be set up until the end of the year.