Exclusive:Westminster committee to discuss Peter Murrell embezzlement inquiry next week
The Scottish Affairs Committee is meeting on Tuesday afternoon and the members will debate whether it should launch an inquiry
A Westminster committee is to discuss holding an inquiry into Peter Murrell’s embezzlement of SNP funds next week.
The Scottish Affairs Committee is meeting on Tuesday afternoon and the members will raise whether it should launch an inquiry.
The Scotsman revealed last week that the vast majority of members on the committee support an investigation.
Chair Patricia Ferguson has confirmed that it will “consider” holding a probe.
But it SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan - the only Nationalist on the committee - has so far refused to say whether he will back one.
SNP First Minister John Swinney has said that he does not support a Holyrood probe.
Lib Dem MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire Angus MacDonald said: “The Scottish Affairs Committee will be meeting on Tuesday afternoon, and we'll be discussing the opportunity to have an inquiry.
“I think we all feel that a lot of questions still to be answered, for example, was pressure put on Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain to persuade her to leave the the criminal investigation conclusion for Peter Murrell to after the Scottish Parliament election? We'd like to ask more about that.
“Very keen to find out whether the various treasurers were restricted access to the books by anybody other than Peter Murrell, and for example, [former SNP treasurer] Colin Beattie.
“And we would be keen to find out whether any other SNP funds have been touched, other than the £600,000 for the independence referendum.
“For example, the short money or the donations from the Weir family, Brian Sutra, etc. Has that been investigated? There will be no doubt, be a great deal of other questions.”
The Scottish Affairs Committee meets in private at 2pm on Tuesday ahead of its oral evidence session on defence.
Members will use this as an opportunity to speak about whether an inquiry should be launched.
The committee is supposed to scrutinise the work of the UK Government.
But it has been suggested that an inquiry into the SNP could take place because the party has received public funds.
The committee usually makes a unanimous decision when deciding what subjects to focus on in an inquiry.
It is unclear whether it would hold an inquiry if any members vote against it.
Labour MP for West Dunbartonshire Douglas McAllister said: "I feel there needs to be a greater sense of urgency. With every passing day there is a new revelation.
"The whole sorry mess needs to be fully investigated and by Westminster.
" I doubt the public would have much confidence in an SNP led inquiry at Holyrood given their track record of secrecy and cover up."
Lib Dem MP for East Dunbartonshire Susan Murray said: “Public confidence in politics is at an all-time low. This is an area of legitimate public concern and there are serious questions to be answered.
“Confidence in all parties is best protected through transparency and examination, rather than avoiding the difficult questions.”
Mr Murrell - the estranged husband of former SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and ex-party chief executive - has admitted embezzling a total of £400,310.65 from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022.
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