Westminster committee delays decision on Murrell probe

Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee has delayed taking a decision on holding a probe into Peter Murrell’s embezzlement of SNP funds.

MPs on the committee met to consider launching a probe into the matter on Tuesday, but decided instead to wait until a Holyrood debate on Wednesday where Labour are attempting to push for a Scottish Parliament committee to launch a probe.

The committee also decided to write to the Electoral Commission, the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Clerk of the House to understand the “potential implication of public funds in the embezzlement of SNP funds”.

A statement from the committee, on Wednesday, said: “At its meeting yesterday, the Scottish Affairs Committee discussed matters relating to the embezzlement of funds from the SNP.

“The committee agreed that Holyrood was the most appropriate place for an inquiry and it will await the outcome of the forthcoming debate and the establishment of committees there before deciding whether to undertake substantive work on this matter.

“In the meantime, the committee agreed for the chair to write to the Clerk of the House, the Speaker of the House, and the Electoral Commission, to explore further the potential implication of public funds in the embezzlement of SNP funds.

“This correspondence will be sent in due course and will be published on the committee’s website in the usual way.

“The committee agreed to consider any further action in light of the responses received.”

The Labour motion pushing for a Holyrood committee to look into Murrell’s embezzlement of more than £400,000, which was used to buy scores of personal items, is expected to be defeated due to the opposition from both the SNP and Greens.

Labour leader deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie told MSPs from the two parties that Wednesday’s debate represented their “final chance to do the right thing”.

“We know that John Swinney and others within the SNP, along with Ross Greer, have had close friendships with Murrell, openly praising him for his stewardship of the SNP as chief executive,” she said.

“However, they must set aside their personal connections with Murrell and realise that it is only right that we now have an inquiry into this scandal to allow Scotland to move forward.

“They have so far dug their heels in on the issue of an inquiry, but they still have a final chance to do the right thing, back the motion and allow the Scottish Parliament to hold an inquiry.”