A powerful Westminster committee has deferred a decision on launching a probe into the Peter Murrell embezzlement scandal. The Scottish Affairs Committee will wait for the outcome of a vote at Holyrood today before making a decision. They are also making inquiries about whether any of the stolen funds came from the public purse.
Murrell, the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, is facing jail after admitting embezzling over £400,000 of SNP funds during a twelve-year crime spree as party CEO. Holyrood is voting on Wednesday on whether to establish an inquiry, but the SNP/Greens are expected to block a probe. Such a move would leave the field open to the Labour-dominated SAC for its own inquiry.
In a statement, the SAC said: "The committee agreed that Holyrood was the most appropriate place for an inquiry and it will await the outcome of the forthcoming debate and the establishment of committees there before deciding whether to undertake substantive work on this matter. In the meantime, the Committee agreed for the Chair to write to the Clerk of the House, the Speaker of the House, and the Electoral Commission, to explore further the potential implication of public funds in the embezzlement of SNP funds. This correspondence will be sent in due course and will be published on the Committee's website in the usual way. The Committee agreed to consider any further action in light of the responses received."
The SAC's press release was issued after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle granted MPs a "limited waiver" to discuss the case ahead of Murrell's sentencing on June 23rd.
