Six reasons why we need a Murrell inquiry to restore trust in politics

Greer argues that an inquiry would be a party political stunt and not what MSPs were elected to do. In fact, the most significant previous investigation, into the Scottish Government’s handling of the Alex Salmond complaints, was done by a cross-party committee of MSPs.

And as the former SNP Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil has suggested, the SNP should consider appointing a senior lawyer to examine the party’s governance structures.

Greer also claims that an inquiry would simply be getting involved in internal SNP politics. But that is simply not the case.

The Murrell scandal is not just about campervans, a £4,000 pen or even £2,500 on a single salt and pepper set - it is about how Scotland’s political establishment reacted to an embarrassing financial scandal in their midst, and what that says about them.

Ultimately, the scandal has implications for all of us in the Holyrood Parliament –Murrell’s crimes just wiped out what little trust was left in Scotland’s political institutions. And there are many questions that remain unanswered.

Why, for example, if Murrell knew he wanted to plead guilty on 2nd March, was the case postponed until 25th May?

Why was Murrell granted legal aid when he owned a villa in Portugal, which he sold after his application was granted? Murrell frequently spent his stolen cash on expensive presents for his wife – can these gifts be recovered under the proceeds of crime legislation?

Did the SNP claim VAT back on Murrell’s purchases, and given that they would receive Short money and funds from the Electoral Commission, how much was taxpayer money in the first place?

What does it say about a First Minister’s understanding of checks and balances that she ignored obvious conflicts of interest to keep her husband running the SNP and sidelined those who raised concerns about the way he managed it?

And why should voters trust the SNP to manage the country’s budget when its former Finance Secretary John Swinney and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claim to have had no idea what was happening with their own party’s finances?

Swinney has argued there is no need for an inquiry because there was a police investigation – but there are so many questions beyond that.

This is about public trust.

As a young parliamentarian once said: “The key and absolute qualification for any First Minister of Scotland is that that individual must be able to command the trust of the Parliament and the public.”

That parliamentarian was John Swinney.

This is not about how the SNP runs the party, but how it runs the country.

Last week, the Court of Session found Ministers to be in contempt of court for their refusal to respond to a Freedom of Information request regarding the Salmond files.

Too often, the SNP treats the Scottish Parliament with the same complacency that Murrell had for his party’s accounts.

Scottish Labour will continue to push for a parliamentary inquiry. That’s the only way to restore trust in politics.

And if John Swinney has nothing to hide he should welcome it.