Holyrood has voted down a call for an inquiry into Peter Murrell's embezzlement of £400,000 from the SNP, but an investigation could still take place despite this. A Labour call for an inquiry to be held to 'restore public trust in Scottish politics' was rejected, with MSPs instead favouring the Greens' suggestion of a wider independent review into party political finances.
After the Green amendment, which removed Labour's call for a Holyrood inquiry, was passed, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the two pro-independence parties had 'shamefully teamed up to continue the very culture that enabled Murrell to commit his crimes'. Mr Sarwar stated: 'If they have nothing to hide then why are they so scared of transparency? The truth is, the SNP and the Greens are thick as thieves, continuing the very culture of secrecy and cover-up. The people of Scotland deserve better than this sleazy attempt to hide from scrutiny and continue the cover-up.'
But First Minister John Swinney said Labour had tried to 'exploit' Murrell's crimes for political advantage. The SNP leader, who was not present in Holyrood for the debate, said afterwards that MSPs had 'agreed there must be a fully independent review into the funding of all political parties'. Mr Swinney commented: 'Labour tried to exploit the fact that the SNP has been a victim of a crime for their own political advantage, but their cynical stunt has boomeranged spectacularly. The SNP has nothing to fear from a properly independent review. Under my leadership, I have made sure that the SNP's house is in order.'
Meanwhile, MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster could still step in and launch their own investigation. That committee made clear it felt Holyrood was the 'most appropriate place for an inquiry', with MPs now waiting to see if there is any change at the Scottish Parliament before they decide if they should 'undertake substantive work on this matter'. That statement came ahead of Wednesday's debate at Holyrood, with Labour demanding an inquiry into the 'lessons to be learned' from the former SNP chief executive embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over 12 years, with the cash used to buy scores of items, including a £124,000 campervan, expensive watches and pens, and a range of other items, including an egg poacher.
Speaking in Holyrood, Mr Sarwar said the crimes committed by Nicola Sturgeon's ex-husband amounted to 'the greatest political scandal since devolution'. But Mr Swinney has repeatedly insisted no inquiry is necessary, saying that this would fail to add anything to the lengthy police operation that led to Murrell's guilty plea last month. In response, Mr Sarwar said that the SNP was looking to 'blag their way through this and hope the story moves on'. The Scottish Labour leader stated: 'Let me say, from the outset, that the responsibility for Peter Murrell's crimes lie with Peter Murrell. But the issues raised by his crimes go beyond Peter Murrell himself.' Speaking about Operation Branchform, the five-year Police Scotland investigation into SNP finances, he said that this 'goes to the heart of the culture of the political establishment in Scotland', adding that it was 'beyond doubt there must be a parliamentary inquiry'. Mr Sarwar said: 'This inquiry is about strengthening our democracy, it is about restoring public trust in our politics, it is about holding those in power and our institutions to account and learning lessons.'
But parliamentary business minister Jamie Hepburn said any Holyrood inquiry would see MSPs from various parties tasked with investigating the internal operations of just one party. 'There is an obvious conflict of interest in parties investigating each other in this way,' he said. He added: 'I think it is inescapable that the type of inquiry Mr Sarwar is seeking to establish would look into the internal workings of a political party, and I don't think that would be a good precedent to set.' Meanwhile, he said that Operation Branchform had been 'extensive and thorough', with the SNP minister adding: 'It resulted in a prosecution and it resulted in a verdict in court. The criminal justice process has done what it was designed to do.'
Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer said that Labour's demand for a Holyrood inquiry was 'the response of sore losers who cannot deal with the fact that, for 20 years, they have failed to put a positive vision to the people'. Instead of Labour's suggested Holyrood inquiry, the Greens proposed an independent review into party political finances, with this backed by 71 votes to 50. Such an inquiry, Mr Greer said, could 'look into issues like the influence wielded by wealthy donors, dark-money organisations, those who don't declare their own funding before giving to political parties and working with them'. After the amended motion was passed, Mr Greer said: 'I am glad that Parliament supported our call for an independent investigation into party political finances. At a time when billionaires and bad faith actors are trying to buy political influence and corrupt our politics, it is important that every political party is held to high standards of financial transparency.'
