Scottish Reform MSP calls for public inquiry into Nicola Sturgeon amid embezzlement scandal: 'Madness!'

Reform UK Scotland's deputy leader has called for a public inquiry into what Nicola Sturgeon knew about Peter Murrell's embezzlement scandal.

Speaking to GB News, Thomas Kerr compared Ms Sturgeon's latest interview about her estranged husband to disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, calling it her "Prince Andrew moment".

In an interview with the BBC, Ms Sturgeon spoke out about the impact the scandal has personally had on her, revealing she now carries a "degree of trauma" following the ordeal.

She said: "I absolutely didn't know that he was committing crimes, and because of his actions, I was subjected to a two-year police investigation.

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"I was exonerated. If there had been a shred of evidence that I had been complicit in this or had known about what he was doing, then I wouldn't have been cleared. But despite being cleared, I've still spent a week with having the finger of suspicion pointed at me.

"Yes, I'm angry, but I'm also carrying a degree of hurt and I think a degree of trauma about this whole episode, which resulted in me sitting in a police station under arrest. What he has done to me, I think, will take me a very, very long time to recover from."

Discussing the scandal, Mr Kerr told GB News that the Scottish Parliament "should be holding an inquiry into this whole fiasco".

He said: "Nicola can put as much crocodile tears as she wants out to the public, but I actually think that Laura Kuenssberg interview yesterday was her Prince Andrew moment, and she didn't come across well in this whatsoever.

"Instead, what we're seeing is a former First Minister and a politician desperately trying to stay relevant and trying to clear her name."

Mr Kerr argued that Ms Sturgeon "silenced opponents consistently" who had their concerns about Mr Murrell's actions.

He revealed: "Whether or not she knew what Peter Murrell was up to is a question for her to answer, though I have my own suspicions, and I suspect that the idea you don't see a camper van on your in-law's drive is just nonsense.

"But she silenced opponents consistently inside the SNP, she constantly shut people down who raised concerns, and I think the idea that we don't get down to the bottom of this is just madness."

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Challenging Mr Kerr's argument, GB News host Emily Carver questioned whether a public inquiry is "something that the Scottish people want".

Mr Kerr responded: "The criminality side of this is over with, Nicola Sturgeon has been exonerated in terms of criminality proceedings from the police, but there is genuine concern inside the SNP. Public funds have been used in this as well.

"There's a genuine concern about how the governance of the SNP has managed to push this up for over a decade, so I think that the public in Scotland want to see a public inquiry."

As host Cameron Walker highlighted that First Minister John Swinney has rejected calls for an inquiry, the Scottish Reform politician declared he is "not surprised".

He said: "He's trying his hardest to be silent, he doesn't want this to be discussed. We've seen that last week. He and Nicola are trying to wipe this under the carpet as much as possible.

"I am very clear though, I think that there has to be an inquiry. I think we have to get down to the bottom of what happened here and make sure it doesn't happen again."

Mr Kerr concluded: "This is SNP party member funds but also public money that has been wasted to a massive amount of the public taxpayers purse, and I think it's only fair that Nicola Sturgeon and SNP politicians are held accountable.

"So I think we're likely going to get an inquiry. I just think John Swinney should take the initiative and do what's right for the country and put the people of Scotland first."

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