MP demands answers from Scottish Government over claims Nike conference in Edinburgh could have led to coronavirus being spread to North East

The Echo’s sister paper, The Scotsman, has reported how the SNP Government has been under pressure over revelations that a number of cases globally were linked to a Nike conference in the Scottish capital in late February.

Now Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South, has called for answers over both the UK and Scottish Government’s response after a Nike conference delegate tested positive for coronavirus.

He said: “Not only were people in Edinburgh kept in the dark, the decision to keep the information secret means people in North East England were also unaware of how the virus could easily spread to their region.“There are questions too for the UK Government which should have acted when the Scottish Government failed to be transparent.“The lack of transparency from both governments is harming public confidence at a vital time for the country as we move towards the easing of lockdown measures.”

SNP Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not rule out an independent inquiry into the handling of the Nike conference coronavirus controversy, but denied it was a ‘mistake’ not to make the outbreak public knowledge.

She added: “People are entitled to think we should have made a different judgement, but accept that we’re trying to make these judgements in good faith.”

The Echo reported on March 4 how Nike’s base at Doxford International Business Park in Sunderland was closed off to staff, with security guards turning visitors away as a deep cleaning company moved into the complex.

Nike’s London HQ was also closed. The company never confirmed if an employee had contracted coronavirus.

In a statement at the time, it said: “While we have no information indicating any exposure to employees, out of caution we are conducting a deep cleaning of our offices.”

Sunderland City Council revealed on Friday March 6 that a person who worked in Sunderland, but was from outside the city, had the virus.

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