John Swinney's refusal to support an independent inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal is 'damaging' the SNP, a senior Nationalist has warned.
Alex Neil, a former Scottish Government minister, said the case against Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband could continue to make headlines for another year unless 'unanswered questions' were addressed.
The retired MSP said he backed calls for a KC from outwith Scotland to review how Murrell was 'to get this all done and dusted so it doesn't poison the future chances and future strategy of the party'.
Neil told the Record one of the major unanswered questions was how more than £600,000-worth of donations to the SNP that were supposedly 'ring-fenced' for an IndyRef2 campaign were ultimately spent.
Questions over where the money went – which was donated via an online fundraiser promoted by the party in 2017 – have flared up again in recent weeks following the conviction of Murrell for embezzlement.
The former long-serving SNP chief executive was found to have fleeced his party of over £400,000, which 'principally' came from members' fees, donations and legacies left to the party. Murrell is due back in court next week for sentencing.
Neil said: 'The original complaint has not been answered – because the original complaint was about the ring-fencing of the money.
'John Swinney says the balance of the money was spent on other things. But it was raised on the basis that it would be ring-fenced for a referendum campaign. Have the police investigated that?
'The original complaint was not of embezzlement.'
Neil continued: 'People want this whole thing once and forever. If there are unanswered questions, it will go on and on.
'A year from now, we will still be talking about the Peter Murrell case unless proper answers are given to party members who donated to the fund on the basis it would be ring-fenced for an independence referendum.
'This is why I think there should be an independent inquiry. It's much better to get this all done and dusted so it doesn't poison the future chances and future strategy of the party.
'I think John Swinney has made a huge mistake by not having an independent inquiry into all the outstanding allegations and getting it cleared up within six months – then we can put this whole thing to bed.
'At the moment, all the unanswered questions, and the rumours, and the counter-rumours, are continuing to damage the party, and they will continue to do so until the leadership open up and end the secrecy.'
SNP and Green MSPs last week voted down a Holyrood motion by Scottish Labour which called for a parliamentary inquiry into the Murrell scandal.
MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster have not ruled out launching their own probe into the matter.
It comes as the SNP prepares to contest two by-elections in the north-east of Scotland. The party is bidding to hold the Aberdeen South and Arbroath constituencies on Thursday after their respective MPs both quit following their election to Holyrood at last month's poll.
