Humza Yousaf, the Scottish National Party's (SNP) Health Secretary, has found himself embroiled in controversy after new evidence has emerged suggesting that the SNP lifted Covid travel restrictions to Spain for political reasons. This revelation has led to accusations that Yousaf lied to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) about the motivations behind the decision.
During a session at Holyrood last month, the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, stated that the decision to ease travel restrictions to Spain in July 2020 was based solely on “purely epidemiological” concerns. However, evidence uncovered by the UK Covid inquiry contradicts this claim. It suggests that Spain was treated more favorably due to fears that it could block an independent Scotland's membership of the European Union (EU) if it was not added to a travel exemptions list.
The Scottish Tories have now obtained additional emails that further support these claims. The emails reveal that Scott Wightman, a Scottish Government official, stated in July 2020 that a “politically a decision on Spain” had to be announced in the Scottish Parliament. Shortly after this statement, the travel rules were eased. A government briefing note also acknowledged that Scotland's external relationships, including with Spain, had been adversely impacted by the travel restrictions and called for the rules to be relaxed.
These revelations have prompted Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, to demand an explanation from Yousaf. He accused the Health Secretary of misleading parliament when he assured Ross during First Minister's Questions that the decision to exempt Spain was made for “purely epidemiological reasons.” Ross argues that these messages reinforce what was learned during the UK Covid Inquiry, which revealed that the SNP government was influenced by political considerations rather than solely prioritizing public safety.
One can only imagine how devastating this news must be for those who lost loved ones during the pandemic. To think that political motivations played a role in decisions that could have impacted public health is deeply concerning. It reveals a lack of transparency and a focus on the SNP's independence agenda rather than the well-being of the Scottish people.
The controversy surrounding Yousaf is further intensified by the fact that Mr. Wightman's note, disclosed during Nicola Sturgeon's evidence to the Covid inquiry, warned that the Spanish Government “won't forget” if travel restrictions were maintained. He suggested that there was a real possibility that they would never approve EU membership for an independent Scotland as a result. Yousaf had vehemently denied these claims, stating on February 1 that it was a “fantasy” to suggest that any decision on Spain was made for any reason other than epidemiology.
The decision to lift quarantine rules for travel to Spain by the Scottish Government on July 20, 2020, raised eyebrows, particularly given the concerns about the impact on relations with Madrid and the potential implications for Scottish independence. Just days later, Spain was removed from the exemptions list on a UK basis due to a rise in Covid cases.
In response to the allegations, a Scottish Government spokesman defended the decisions, stating that the travel restrictions were vital to protect the people of Scotland from the harms of Covid-19. They claim that the decisions regarding Spain were based on the UK Government's data on the prevalence rate in Spain relative to Scotland's prevalence rate at the time.
The revelations surrounding Yousaf's alleged deception raise serious questions about the SNP's priorities during the pandemic. The Scottish people deserve honesty and transparency from their elected officials, especially during times of crisis. The focus should always be on public safety and well-being, rather than political considerations. It remains to be seen how Yousaf will respond to these accusations and whether further consequences will follow.
