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Nicola Sturgeon’s private WhatsApp messages have been made public after a four-year battle over transparency, revealing internal conflicts at the heart of the SNP during the Covid pandemic.
The leaked messages show the former First Minister expressing strong frustration with then-Health Minister Humza Yousaf’s draft NHS Recovery Plan—just days before publicly endorsing it.
In one exchange, Yousaf admitted the plan was overly focused on policy and lacked clear, public-facing outcomes, taking full responsibility for its shortcomings. He told Sturgeon: “The buck stops with me. We’ll work hard this week to get a version that meets your expectations.”
Sturgeon responded: “Yeah it needed a lot of work,” and later added, “I'm reading a revised draft… still feeling the need to translate parts into acceptable English before even addressing the substance. It's very frustrating.”
She went on to say she was “pretty furious” the plan had been sent back to her in such poor condition and planned to dedicate serious time to improve it.
Yousaf, juggling other duties, replied: “After this meeting with bereaved families, I’ll get back onto the team.” Sturgeon’s blunt response: “My specific concern is that it’s awful.”
He later confided in junior health minister Maree Todd: “Have had to rewrite the NHS recovery plan this week as FM took a hatchet to it.”
Despite this, Sturgeon launched the final version just eight days later, calling it a bold step toward creating “an NHS that is innovative, sustainable and stronger than ever.”
The plan was soon met with backlash. Critics, including politicians and health experts, deemed it ineffective and poorly designed.
Labour’s health spokesperson Jackie Baillie remarked: “Nicola Sturgeon was right about one thing – this NHS Recovery Plan was useless. Her scathing remarks expose deep dysfunction within the SNP.”
Tony Whittle, the Conservative deputy spokesperson on mental wellbeing, added: “Our NHS is still reeling from the damage caused by Humza Yousaf’s flawed proposals.”
A government spokesperson defended the plan, stating it had committed over £1 billion to support the NHS in managing ongoing pandemic challenges.
