The SNP and Scottish Greens have been heavily criticised after voting down a proposal for a Scottish Parliament inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal. The First Minister, John Swinney, faced accusations of blocking scrutiny as MSPs rejected Labour's call for a probe into the former SNP chief executive's embezzlement of over £400,000.
Labour's Call for Inquiry
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described the theft as the “greatest political scandal since devolution” and argued that the inquiry would focus on taxpayer-funded bodies such as Police Scotland, the Crown Office, the Electoral Commission, and HMRC. He challenged the SNP, stating, “If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear.”
Rejection by Pro-Independence Parties
Instead of the Labour-backed inquiry, the SNP and Greens voted for an independent review into party political finances applicable to all parties. SNP Minister Jamie Hepburn cited a conflict of interest, saying, “There is an obvious conflict of interest in parties investigating each other.” Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer echoed this, accusing Labour of being “sore losers.”
Criticism and Next Steps
Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie accused the SNP of being “deaf” to the issue, while the block may lead to Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee (SAC) launching its own probe. The Labour-dominated SAC has already written to bodies like the Electoral Commission regarding public funds involved in Murrell’s crimes.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer supported a Holyrood inquiry, stating, “These are serious, legitimate questions that deserve answers and scrutiny.”
