A powerful Westminster committee is set to consider calls to launch its own inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal after Holyrood refused to carry out joint work.
The Scottish Affairs Committee, which meets on Wednesday, is to discuss whether to press ahead with its own probe into the fallout from the embezzlement of more than £400,000 by the former SNP chief executive, who is Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband.
The Labour-led committee is coming under pressure from senior Tory MPs and also Scottish Labour’s acting leader to now take forward its own work on the issue.
It follows the confirmation that three Scottish Parliament committees turned down the request for co-operation.
The Scottish Affairs Committee (SAC) is led by chairman Patricia Ferguson, a Labour MP. The other ten members who will decide whether to launch a probe include five from Labour, two Conservative, two Liberal Democrat and one SNP.
Scottish Labour acting leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: ‘We have always been clear that our preference would be for Holyrood to lead an inquiry into the lessons to be learned from Operation Branchform. It is for John Swinney and for SNP MSPs to explain why they are so reluctant to allow the public to get answers on this vital issue.
The Scottish Affairs Committee (SAC) is led by chairman Patricia Ferguson
Peter Murrell was convicted of embezzling more than £400,000
‘However, if they continue to obstruct an inquiry, then the Scottish Affairs Committee will seek to take forward this important work.
‘The culture of secrecy and cover-up has festered for too long. It is time the SNP did the right thing and stopped standing in the way of the truth.’
Kemi Badenoch previously accused the SNP of attempting a ‘cover up’ over the scandal and insisted that if Holyrood does not look into the fallout then Westminster should do it instead.
Andrew Bowie, Tory MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and a senior member of Mrs Badenoch’s Shadow Cabinet, said: ‘Terrified SNP MSPs are running scared of an inquiry into Murrell’s murky dealings.
‘John Swinney’s used every trick in the book to block it. He and Nicola Sturgeon enabled Murrell’s crime spree by ignoring and silencing whistleblowers who raised the alarm.
‘The Scottish Affairs Committee has done everything in its power to cooperate with the Scottish Parliament and encourage them to investigate this scandal.
‘If Holyrood won’t do the right thing, then the SAC must press ahead with an inquiry of its own to give Scots the answers they deserve about this sordid affair.’
Any investigation would look at a range of issues, including whether any public money was involved.
It could also consider the implications and lessons for key institutions like the Crown Office, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government.
Ms Ferguson said: ‘The committee will consider the responses from the three Holyrood committees later this week.’
MPs on the committee may look to debate whether to launch work on a Murrell inquiry in private.
The SNP said the issue of an inquiry has already been voted on by the Scottish Parliament.
A spokesman added: ‘The criminal actions of Peter Murrell was uncovered by a complex and extensive Police investigation which found the SNP was the victim of embezzlement.’
