Swinney rejects call for Holyrood inquiry into Murrell

Swinney rejects call for Holyrood inquiry into Murrell2 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAngus CochraneSenior political journalist, BBC ScotlandGetty ImagesJohn Swinney faced questions about the scandal at First Minister's Questions John Swinney has rejected calls for a Holyrood inquiry into former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who admitted this week to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.Murrell, the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, is facing a lengthy jail sentence after pleading guilty on Monday. Swinney was urged by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to back a parliamentary probe at the inaugural First Minister's Questions after the election. The SNP leader said he did not believe an inquiry was needed following a five-year "forensic" police investigation.John Swinney rejects call for parliamentary inquiry following Peter Murrell convictionSturgeon defends 'no comment' police interview after SNP funds probe arrestSturgeon showed 'remarkable lack of curiosity' over SNP finances, Cherry saysMurrell, who was SNP chief executive between 2001 and 2023, admitted that he had embezzled more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year-period.He spent the money on a motorhome, cars and hundreds of other items including jewellery and luxury goods, some of which were gifted to Sturgeon.Murrell is due to be sentenced next month. Sturgeon was arrested and released without charge in June 2023 - but was later told by officers that she was no longer under investigation. PA MediaNicola Sturgeon has denied wrongdoing following her estranged husband's guilty pleaSarwar said a Holyrood inquiry - in the mould of the probe into the Scottish government's botched handling of sexual harassment complaints against Alex Salmond - was needed to investigate the SNP's culture of "cover-up and secrecy".He accused Swinney of having helped to "build, enable and defend" that culture. Sarwar tol...