The Scottish government has announced it will launch a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic by the end of this year - months ahead of Boris Johnson’s promise of an inquiry in the spring of 2022.

       The announcement came after the deputy first minister John Swinney met representatives of the Scottish branch of the campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice.

       In a statement, the Scottish government said that the inquiry will be independent and will look into events causing public concern north of the border, including the spread of coronavirus into care homes.

       Restricted to matters devolved to Scotland, the inquiry will aim to establish the facts behind the pandemic and the explanations for decisions taken by authorities, as well as the reasons why the handling of the outbreak “may not have gone as expected”, and to consider how different outcomes could have been achieved and what lessons should be learnt.

       Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said in April that she wanted a judge-led inquiry to begin before the end of this year, and would prefer it to be established on a UK-wide basis.

       But she came under pressure to go it alone after Mr Johnson said he would not launch a four-nations probe until the spring.

       Scotland has suffered 8,070 of the UK’s recorded 132,000 deaths from Covid-19 and has seen a sharp spike in infections over the past week, with daily cases reaching 3,610.

       Health secretary Jeane Freeman has previously admitted that moving elderly patients from hospitals to care homes early in the pandemic without taking the right precautions was a “mistake”.

       Setting up an inquiry was one of Ms Sturgeon’s pledges for her first 100 days of the reformed Scottish government following the election on 6 May.

       Announcing a consultation, to conclude by 30 September, on the format and terms of reference for the probe, Mr Swinney said: “Since the early stages of our pandemic response we have been committed to a public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic in Scotland, to ensure that lessons are learned for the future.

       “The publication of this aims and principles paper, as one of our 100-days commitments, is an important step towards the establishment of that inquiry.

       “We will continue to listen to those affected by Covid-19, including bereaved families, on what they wish the public inquiry to focus on.

       “Their feedback will be fundamental in reviewing the suggested approach set out here, and setting the terms of reference for an independent Scottish inquiry.

       “Discussions are also ongoing with the UK government on the planned four-nations inquiry, to ensure all areas that need to be considered are covered in a way that gives confidence to bereaved families and others.”