John Swinney feels the heat over Peter Murrell scandal as MPs suggest new proposal so 'public can get answers they deserve' over party fraud

By MICHAEL BLACKLEY, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 20:31, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 20:31, 1 July 2026 A powerful Westminster committee is to urge the Scottish Parliament to consider working on a joint probe into the Peter Murrell scandal. The Scottish Affairs Committee has agreed to ask relevant Holyrood committees to consider ‘joint working’ on the fallout from the saga, which saw the former SNP chief executive jailed for five years and three months for embezzling more than £400,000 from his party. It would look at a range of issues, including whether any public money was involved. But Conservative MPs are putting pressure on the Westminster select committee to get on with launching its own inquiry rather than waiting for an answer from Holyrood committees. In a statement following its meeting on Wednesday, the Scottish Affairs Committee said that it had agreed that its chairman Patricia Ferguson ‘should write to relevant committees of the Scottish Parliament to explore the potential of undertaking joint working in respect of matters relating to the embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party’. Any joint probe could consider issues like whether public funds were involved and the implications and lessons for key institutions like the Crown Office, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government. Some members of the Scottish Affairs Committee have been pushing hard for it to hold its own inquiry but others are keen to ensure that any probe does not cover aspects which are devolved to Holyrood. John Swinney has already rejected calls for a parliamentary inquiry, saying there was ‘a very clear criminal justice conclusion’ to the case. SNP and Green MSPs previously united to defeat calls for a Scottish Parliament inquiry into the scandal. First Minister John Swinney has already rejected calls for a parliamentary inquiry Tory MP Andrew Bowie, the Shadow Scottish Secretary, said: ‘We know that Holyrood will never agree to launch a probe because John Swinney has told his fellow nationalists to block it. ‘The Scottish Affairs Committee should do the right thing and get on with their own inquiry so that the public can get the answers they deserve on the Murrell scandal and Nicola Sturgeon’s role in it.’ The Scottish Affairs Committee also published correspondence yesterday from Tom Goldsmith, clerk of the House of Commons, confirming that the SNP had received £8.2million of ‘short money’ between 2009 and 2022. He also said that until recently no concerns had been raised about any misuse of public funds but since the developments on the Murrell case there had been ‘a number of non-specific media enquiries on this issue’. Mr Goldsmith added: ‘The relevant colleagues I have consulted are not aware of other substantial concerns having been raised in recent years. In light of that, I have no reason to believe there are systemic weaknesses with the system.’ Electoral Commission chairman John Pullinger also told the Committee that the SNP had received £2.2million in policy development grants between 2010 and 2022 but there is ‘no evidence of misuse’ of the money. Mr Pullinger said independently audited reports submitted by the party showed the funding had been spent on eligible activities, ‘mostly staff salaries’. Peter Murrell admitted his guilt and was sentenced to over five years in jail But he also said the Commission is working with the SNP to review past accounts, declarations and disclosures following Murrell’s conviction and would ‘take appropriate action’ if evidence of misuse emerged. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer accused the SNP of ‘pretending’ not to know Murrell was embezzling money. Responding to a question from SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan during Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said: ‘Before he or any of them give any more advice to me or this House, let’s have some home truths. ‘Their chief executive has just been jailed for five years for embezzlement. They’re all pretending they didn’t know anything about it. They couldn’t even see the motorhome parked in the driveway, apparently. ‘And now they’re blocking an inquiry into the Scottish Parliament. Before they offer any more advice, they should look in the mirror.’ An SNP spokesman said: ‘The criminal actions of Peter Murrell were uncovered by a complex and extensive police investigation which found the SNP was the victim of embezzlement.’ No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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