Nicola Sturgeon called Boris Johnson a “clown” and said he was utterly incompetent during the pandemic, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has heard.

The comments came in WhatsApp messages exchanged between the former first minister and her former chief of staff and strategic adviser Liz Lloyd revealed during evidence yesterday.

Commenting on Johnson, Sturgeon said: “His utter incompetence in every sense is now offending me on behalf of politicians everywhere.”

Lloyd told the inquiry that it became evident during calls with first ministers during the pandemic “that he [Johnson] didn’t want to be on those calls, he wasn’t necessarily well briefed on those calls, and he wasn’t listening to the points we were making on those calls”.

The special advisor said engagement with the former PM came to be seen as “slightly pointless” and described COBRA meetings with Johnson as a “shambles”.

Lloyd said there was “fairly constant and fairly good communication” between the Scottish and UK governments in broader terms, particularly on health, but said calls with Johnson “didn’t get us anywhere”.

The inquiry also covered suggestions the Scottish government used the pandemic to further the cause of independence.

When it was suggested to Lloyd by inquiry chair Baroness Hallett that it appeared some members of the Scottish cabinet had agreed to “capitalise on the pandemic to advance the cause of independence”, the  former advisor said that while that was given consideration it “was not done at this time”.

Sturgeon is scheduled to provide evidence to the inquiry next Wednesday (31 January).

Current secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities Michael Gove, will give evidence on Monday (29 January).