Nicola Sturgeon has warned the details of the Sue Gray inquiry are becoming "murkier by the minute" after it was reported the Metropolitan Police has asked for the report to make only "minimal reference" to the events being investigated by officers.
The inquiry is looking into into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street. Scotland Yard confirmed on Tuesday it was launching its own investigation into the alleged rule breaches.
The Metropolitan Police insisted officers had not asked for senior civil servant Sue Gray's report to be delayed or placed any further restrictions on other events.
Ms Gray's much anticipated report has the potential to trigger a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson by Tory MPs.
Scotland's First Minister has now warned the situation may lead to public suspicion that "the process of inquiry is aiding Johnson at the expense of public accountability".
Ms Sturgeon tweeted: "This gets murkier by the minute. Sue Gray and the Met are in difficult positions, but the sequence of events and the situation arrived at now creates the suspicion - however unfairly - that the process of inquiry is aiding Johnson at the expense of public accountability."
She also echoed calls made by Labour leader Keir Starmer for the report to be published in full.
She continued: "I doubt Johnson cares about damage to the reputations of others - individuals or institutions - as long as he saves his own skin. But these things matter. Rapid conclusion and full publication of the findings of inquiries surely now essential for public trust."
