The SNP must think again after the Scottish Conservatives secured cross-party support for an immediate public inquiry into Covid-19 deaths in care homes and the release of all the legal advice they received for the Alex Salmond judicial review.
On care homes, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon refused to commit to immediately launching a judge-led inquiry, leading to accusations that grieving families have been betrayed.
But at Holyrood yesterday, opposition MSPs backed a Scottish Conservative call for the inquiry to be launched without any further delay by a vote of 64 to 1, with 57 abstentions.
Last week, Public Health Scotland published a report which revealed more than 100 Covid-positive and thousands of untested hospital patients were sent into care homes at the start of the pandemic.
137 people were discharged from Borders hospitals into 20 of the 26 care homes across the Borders between 1 March and 31 May 2020.
Mrs Hamilton spoke in the care homes debate, and called for clarification for the numbers of patients who tested positive in the Borders who were discharged to care homes.
She said the families ‘have been let down’ and that the fiasco in care homes is ‘nothing short of a scandal’.
On the legal advice on the Alex Salmond judicial review, the Scottish Conservatives said the government now had no choice but to respect the will of the Parliament and release all the legal advice.
With both parliamentary motions backed by opposition parties, Rachael Hamilton has called on the Scottish Government to respect the will of Parliament.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“Parliament has now spoken on both accounts and Nicola Sturgeon must listen. There can be no more delays on a care homes inquiry, nor the publication of legal advice on the Salmond judicial review.
“It is utterly unacceptable that grieving families have still not been given answers by the SNP Government on their loved ones in care homes.
“An inquiry won’t bring them back, but I hope it will give families some closure at what must be a very difficult time.
“On the legal advice regarding the Alex Salmond inquiry, the vote backing my party’s motion sends a clear message that the SNP cannot hide when it comes to being transparent and honest with the Scottish people.
“The government has so far treated the Salmond inquiry with disdain. Key evidence and legal advice has been kept hidden.
“The will of Parliament must now be honoured, people need answers”.