is clinicians, professor jason leitch, is clinicians, professorjason leitch, speaking at the l where is speaking at the covid inquiry, where the topic of deleting messages is being discussed. a former post office investigator is facing questions about the horizon computer scandal, at the long—running inquiry. and survivors of the 2017 grenfell tower fire share the impact of the disaster on their lives as part of grenfell testimony week. one of scotland's most senior clinicians, professorjason leitch, is appearing before the uk covid inquiry, where the issue of saving informal messages is being discussed. last week, a message he wrote was shown to the inquiry, in which he said deleting whatsapp messages was a bed—time ritual during the pandemic. this comes after the testimony of professor sir gregor smith, scotland's chief medical officer on monday, who admitted asking his colleagues to delete whatsapp messages at the end of every day during the pandemic. he said any pertinent information was recorded via email. solicitor aamer anwar of scottish covid bereaved, an advocacy group of pe

_ an instruction to professorjason leitch, if— an instruction to professorjason leitch, if you wantednted to carry out such conversations where he was discussing — such conversations where he was discussing important matters related to the _ discussing important matters related to the pandemic with you, you wanted to the pandemic with you, you wanted to be clear— to the pandemic with you, you wanted to be clear with him that that was a matter— to be clear with him that that was a matter not— to be clear with him that that was a matter not appropriate for these media, — matter not appropriate for these media, it — matter not appropriate for these media, it should be done more formally. — media, it should be done more formally, in person and discussions were _ formally, in person and discussions were your— formally, in person and discussions were your practice.— were your practice. absolutely. i made it clear _ were your practice. absolutely. i made it clear to _ were your practice. absolutely. i made it clear to him _ were your practice. absolutely. i made it clear to him that - were y

one of scotland's most senior clinicians, professorjason leitch, is clinicians, professor jason leitchtopic of deleting messages is being discussed. a former post office investigator is facing questions about the horizon computer scandal, at the long—running inquiry. and survivors of the 2017 grenfell tower fire share the impact of the disaster on their lives as part of grenfell testimony week. one of scotland's most senior clinicians, professorjason leitch, is appearing before the uk covid inquiry, where the issue of saving informal messages is being discussed. last week, a message he wrote was shown to the inquiry, in which he said deleting whatsapp messages was a bed—time ritual during the pandemic. this comes after the testimony of professor sir gregor smith, scotland's chief medical officer on monday, who admitted asking his colleagues to delete whatsapp messages at the end of every day during the pandemic.

this is professorjason leitch giving you guidance and advice on your first day in the newjob, is thatlly —— she actually wants none of us. is this an indication of the fact the first minister really took decisions with regard to the pandemic has held for at least would have preferred it that way? at least would have preferred it that wa ? ., ~' at least would have preferred it that wa ? ., ,, ., ., , at least would have preferred it that wa ? ., ,. ., that way? no, i think that was, as jason said — that way? no, i think that was, as jason said when _ that way? no, i think that was, as jason said when he _ that way? no, i think that was, as jason said when he gave _ that way? no, i think that was, as jason said when he gave evidence | that way? no, i think that was, as l jason said when he gave evidence to this very— jason said when he gave evidence to this very inquiry, and sample him perhaps— this very inquiry, and sample him perhaps over speaking. i don't doubt that there _ perhaps over speaking. i don't doubt that there were times when the former— that there were times when the for

leitch giving numerous advice and exchanges, they can be quite complex.that you conveyed the information to your private office verbally, perhaps in the early stages of the pandemic, was conveyed such that all the salient points related to the discussion made their way to the corporate record?— corporate record? again where decisions were _ corporate record? again where decisions were made, - corporate record? again where l decisions were made, absolutely certain— decisions were made, absolutely certain of— decisions were made, absolutely certain of that. and if there was any misunderstanding from my private office they _ any misunderstanding from my private office they would usually seek clarification. jason and i were having — clarification. jason and i were having a _ clarification. jason and i were having a conversation because i was asking _ having a conversation because i was asking his— having a conversation because i was asking his advice on case numbers, trajectory— asking his advice on case numbers, trajectory on — asking his advice on case numb

leitch discussing their— professorjason leitch discussing their attitude towards important moments in give to you — decisions and advice are required to give to you in cabinet. it appears from _ give to you in cabinet. it appears from that— give to you in cabinet. it appears from that and indeed the other messages which have now come to li-ht messages which have now come to light that _ messages which have now come to light that informal messaging in particular whatsapp was a frequent particular whatsapp was a frequent part of— particular whatsapp was a frequent part of the way in which the scottish— part of the way in which the scottish government conducted its business _ scottish government conducted its business in covid. where you were unaware _ business in covid. where you were unaware of— business in covid. where you were unaware of the fact that that was the case — unaware of the fact that that was the case as first minister during the case as first minister during the course — the case as first minister during the course of the pandemic? those exchanres the course of the pande

leitch.21. professor leitch has denied offering the then health secretary mr yousaf a way around the rules. our scotland editor james cook reports. thank you very much forjoining us, professor leitch. _ jason leitch is no stranger to the limelight. for much of the pandemic, he was the public face of the scottish government's response. i swear by almighty god... but the inquiry is now hearing about his private discussions, including this exchange on a government group chat in which he wrote, "whatsapp deletion is a pre—bed ritual." i tried to do today's work today and if i could assure myself that that work had been managed and dealt with, then i deleted the informal messaging that had led to that moment. but this was a flippant exaggeration in an informal messaging group, and it wasn't done every day before i went to bed. some of the tone of some of the messages that i've seen suggest a rather enthusiastic adoption of the policy of deleting messages. would that be fair? it certainly wasn't my

leitch who'd advised mr yousaf — who was then health secretary — that he could avoid having to wear events if he kept "a drink in his hands." 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordon has more. humza yousaf was justice secretary, then health secretary during the pandemic. he's handed his informal messages from that time to the inquiry here. and from one of them that's already been submitted and heard about, we heard an exchange between mr yusuf and jason leitch, in which the then health secretary asked for advice about wearing a mask at a social occasion, and in which jason leitch advised him that if he had a drink in his hand, he would be ok. you're live with bbc news. israel has denied accusations that it hit a united nations facility in southern gaza on wednesday, killing at least nine people and wounded more than 70. we will hopefully speak to our correspondent soon. it's been more than a century since treasures were looted by british soldiers from ghana — many of them hold huge cultural and spiritual significance. now, in a landmark agreement, the victoria and albert and british

scotland's national clinical director, professorjason leitch, will appear before the uk covid—i9 inquiryd about deleting informal government whatsapp messages, which he has previously described as a "bedtime ritual". 0pposition politicians have accused the scottish government of secrecy over the way they handled the pandemic. the government has suffered its first defeat in the house of lords over its plan to send some asylum seekers to rwanda. peers backed an advisory motion calling on ministers to delay a treaty with the country, until they can demonstrate that it is safe. the government says it won't be deterred by people trying to frustrate its policies for political reasons. a simple blood test could detect alzheimer's up to 15 years before symptoms emerge. swedish trials found the test to be as accurate as painful lumbar punctures, and better than a range of other tests currently being worked on. experts say it could revolutionise early diagnosis of the disease. up to 39,000 homes in the north of england, scotland and northern ireland have spent a second night without power because

leitch.sh government guidelines around security on mobile phones in the way he did and why he kept messages when others did not. they may also ask about the exchange with jason leitch in which the national clinical adviser told him when he thought he could and couldn't wear a mask at a social occasion.— social occasion. strictly speaking, that was breaking _ social occasion. strictly speaking, that was breaking the _ social occasion. strictly speaking, that was breaking the rules. - social occasion. strictly speaking, that was breaking the rules. it i social occasion. strictly speaking, | that was breaking the rules. it was during _ that was breaking the rules. it was during a _ that was breaking the rules. it was during a dinnerand that was breaking the rules. it was during a dinner and on occasion with, _ during a dinner and on occasion with. a — during a dinner and on occasion with, a social occasion, and therefore _ with, a social occasion, and therefore i thought it was legitimate and he