Keir Starmer has said the SNP has "giant" questions to answer after the party's former chief executive, Peter Murrell, was jailed for five years and three months for embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer accused the Nationalists of avoiding scrutiny by blocking a Holyrood inquiry into Murrell's offending.
Starmer Criticises SNP's Approach
Starmer mocked John Swinney's party as one that routinely calls "for transparency and accountability for everybody else" but refuses to apply the same standards to itself. He said: "They call for transparency and accountability for everybody else, when they have giant questions of their own to answer. 'Nothing to see here, don't want to know, don't want to have an inquiry.' It's totally the wrong approach."
Scottish Conservative Calls for UK Inquiry
Scottish Conservative MP John Lamont raised the issue at PMQs, pressing Starmer to establish a UK-wide inquiry into the scandal. Lamont said: "Following the conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell for embezzlement, serious questions about governance remain unanswered. The Scottish Government is refusing to establish an inquiry despite clear public concerns. The law does provide for UK inquiries into devolved matters where there is a wider public interest. So as the Prime Minister prepares to leave office, will he set up an inquiry, with the powers needed, so we can uncover the truth?"
No Backing for Westminster Inquiry
Starmer, who announced his intention to quit Downing Street this week, stopped short of backing a separate Westminster inquiry. He instead focused criticism on the SNP's refusal to hold its own investigation. The Prime Minister noted that Murrell's crimes went undetected for 12 years, raising questions about oversight within the party.
Murrell's Sentence and Embezzlement Details
Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband, Peter Murrell, was sentenced this week after admitting to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP. The funds were siphoned from party accounts over a 12-year period. Swinney has attempted to portray the SNP as the victim of the crime, but questions remain over how Murrell was able to fleece the Nationalists for so long before being caught. The SNP is also under pressure to explain whether public money was taken by Murrell as part of his thefts.
Political Fallout
The scandal has deepened political tensions, with opposition parties demanding full transparency. The SNP's refusal to establish a Holyrood inquiry has been criticised as an attempt to bury the issue. Starmer's comments at PMQs underscore the growing pressure on Swinney's leadership as the party faces scrutiny over its governance and financial controls.
