Michael Gove tells inquiry 'personalities do matter in politics'

Michael Gove has told the UK Covid Inquiry that some Scottish government ministers were interested in making political points during discussions over the handling of the pandemic.

The UK secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities said "personalities do matter" when meeting with "politically divergent views".

Mr Gove told the inquiry who he believed was more or less constructive during meetings, singling out the SNP's Kate Forbes - who he said "eschewed political point making".

Others, he said, would preface remarks with politics even after conclusions were reached.

The UK Covid inquiry was set up to look at the UK's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and to learn lessons for the future.

The Scottish Covid inquiry will examine the devolved strategic response to the pandemic in Scotland.