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Emotional Nicola Sturgeon on being first minister in pandemic

"I was the first minister when the pandemic struck. There's a large part of me wishes that I hadn't been."

Nicola Sturgeon fights back tears as she gives evidence at the UK Covid Inquiry in Edinburgh.

31 January 2024

Coronavirus public inquiry

Nicola Sturgeon

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A composite stylised image of Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon Jim Murphy and Alasdair Darling during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign.

Watch: How Scotland's 2014 indyref campaign unfolded

Scotland Politics

Composite image of Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond: 'I doubt Nicola and I will speak again'

Scotland Politics

Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour supporters

The story of election night in Scotland

Scotland Politics

Composite image of Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie

Operation Branchform: Timeline of SNP finance probe

Scotland Politics

Police officers outside Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell's home

What’s happening with the SNP finances police inquiry?

Scotland Politics

Baroness Foster

'Claim we sleepwalked into pandemic is offensive'

Northern Ireland

Michelle O'Neill

'I am sorry for the hurt that’s been caused'

Northern Ireland

Robin Swann

CMO put in 'unfair' position over school closures

Northern Ireland

Robin Swann speaking to Covid Inquiry in Belfast

Leaks were 'one of my largest frustrations'- Swann

Northern Ireland

Robin Swann speaking to Covid Inquiry in Belfast

Leaks were one of my largest frustrations - Swann

Northern Ireland

Edwin Poots

'I didn't see my dad until he was close to dying'

Northern Ireland

Peter Weir

'I regret that closing schools was made political'

Northern Ireland

Sean Scullion

'We will never get over the way we were treated'

Northern Ireland

Nicola Sturgeon

Sturgeon says Murrell charge 'incredibly difficult'

Dame Rosie Winterton

No cheering warning to public during Covid debate

Mark Drakeford

Drakeford gets emotional during Covid inquiry

Mark Drakeford speaking into microphones at the Covid inquiry

Drakeford says he is 'infrequent' user of WhatsApp

Mark Drakeford at the Covid Inquiry

'I'm a believer in the United Kingdom' - Drakeford

Vaughan Gething

Gething admits missing WhatsApps 'embarrassing'

Dr Roland Salmon

Expert criticises supermarket and pub Covid rules

BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell lying on the ground with a blue beanie hat and wrapped in a silver blanket

‘I wanted to show what having a seizure was like’

BBC Scotland's political editor Glenn Campbell has been describing his journey since being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour.

Weather presenter Christopher Blanchett standing in front of a large-scale photograph of wintry conditions

Weather forecast: First taste of winter in Scotland

Arctic air has been working its way in from the north, bringing cold temperatures that for the coming days.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

Flynn: Reaction to 2026 Holyrood bid 'not pleasant'

The SNP Westminster leader will stand for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat

Veterans during Edinburgh's Armistice Day event. One of them is saluting while the other have heads bowed while holding flags downward.

Watch: Armistice Day tributes take place across Scotland

The traditional 11 November two-minute period of remembrance took place at 11:00 across the country.

Three rescuers wearing life jackets and hard hats work to free a humpback whale in a sea loch

Humpback whale tangled in creel lines set free

Experts used underwater cameras to work out how the whale was trapped, before untangling it in Loch Fyne.

Sandy Duthie from Aberdeenshire is now the lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island, in Victoria

The Scot in charge of an Australian lighthouse

Sandy Duthie from Aberdeenshire is now the lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island, in Victoria

Police stand next to a blue trawler vessel moored in a harbour

Watch: Police target fishing boat over 'modern slavery' claim

A 38-year-old man was arrested and two Ghanaian men were removed from the vessel as part of the operation.

Firework explodes on the top or a building behind a traffic island sending red and yellow sparks showering metres in all directions.

Watch: Fireworks set off on Scottish streets on Bonfire Night

Fire crews have been attacked as fireworks were set off on streets across Scotland on Bonfire Night.

Gloved hand picking up one of five Lewis chessmen. Two are facing the camera and three away from the camera.

See a brand new view of the Lewis chessmen

Ten of the intricately-carved pieces have been redisplayed in a case which allows visitors to see their backs for the first time.

The Jacobite Express steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands

Repairing Scotland's historic 'Harry Potter' bridge

Engineers have been working day and night on the Glenfinnan Viaduct as part of a £3.4m restoration project.

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, wearing a blue top and black coat, stands beside Alex Salmond, wearing a blue shirt and dark jacket

Salmond death was shock to all in North Macedonia - Ahmed-Sheikh

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh says people in North Macedonia wanted to pay tribute to Alex Salmond.

Waves can be seen overtopping the barrier at Troon. The sky is grey and sea mist is being blown high by the wind.

Watch: Stormy waters and high winds as storm hits Scotland

Storm Ashley could cause gusts of up to 70-80 mph (113-129km/h) in some areas of Scotland.

Gillian Smart wears a red and black dress. She presents the weather in front of a green screen which forecasts high winds across Scotland.

The latest weather forecast as Storm Ashley hits Scotland

Gillian Smart has the latest weather forecast, as a yellow warning for high winds gusting up to 60 mph (97km/h) is in force across the whole of Scotland.

North Macedonian soldiers carrying Alex Salmond's coffin draped in a Saltire towards a private jet

Alex Salmond’s coffin flown home to Scotland

A plane carrying Alex Salmond's body has left North Macedonia and is being flown back to Scotland.

Black and white horse sticking its head out of a barn door while a police officer feeds it

Watch: Training police horses to help deal with public disorder

The BBC has been given an exclusive insight into the training of police horses when it comes to dealing with public order.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, wears a blue suit and glasses, as he stands in the House of Commons. Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves sit either side of him on the benches.

Salmond was a monumental figure in politics - Starmer

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pays tribute to the 'lasting legacy' of Alex Salmond.

Chris McEleny of the Alba Party speaks to the BBC via Zoom from Zagreb in Croatia

'Can't believe it's happened' - Salmond's Alba colleague

Chris McEleny of the Alba Party is travelling to North Macedonia, where Alex Salmond died on Saturday.

Calum MacColl

BBC weather presenter bursts into song live on air

Calum MacColl sung the Gaelic song that won him a gold medal at the Royal National Mòd in 2021.

Sally Magnusson sits in a darkened room wearing blue-rimmed glasses, a white top and a burgundy blazer

Sally Magnusson hears how a cure for Alzheimer's is 'within our grasp'

Sally Magnusson hears how testing for early symptoms of Alzheimer's could help find a cure for the condition.

BBC Scotland political correspondent Kirsten Campbell

Take a look at the Scottish Parliament building on its 20th birthday

The Scottish Parliament officially opened 20 years ago - but did you know the meanings behind some of its key features?