John Swinney says 'no need' for inquiry into Peter Murrell embezzlement case
The First Minister rejects demands for an independent probe
John Swinney has rejected calls for a Holyrood inquiry into how Peter Murrell was able to embezzle more than £400,000 from the SNP.
The First Minister said there was “no need” for such a probe, and suggested it would be inappropriate given the police investigation.
But critics insisted “serious questions” remained and argued an inquiry would help “restore trust in politics”.
Former senior SNP figures Joanna Cherry and Alex Neil have both called for an independent investigation into what happened.
Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband, pled guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP over a 12-year period.
Police said the 61-year-old abused his privileged position to “bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford”.
Speaking to Bauer Media, Mr Swinney said: “I don’t think there is the need for a Holyrood inquiry. There has been a police inquiry, what more do we need to look into?
“There has been criminality involved here, and that criminality has been addressed in the courts.
“So I don’t think it’s appropriate for there to be a Holyrood inquiry, because what can a Holyrood inquiry do that a detailed police investigation [has not done]?”
The First Minister dismissed the calls as “an example of the politicisation” of criminal acts.
Alex Neil, a former SNP Cabinet minister, told The Scotsman a senior lawyer should be tasked with examining what went wrong and why.
"I think there has to be an independent probe,” he said.
Ms Cherry said those raising internal concerns over financial transparency were deliberately frustrated by the SNP hierarchy in 2020.
She also called for an independent probe, and said this would have to be “shorter, sharper and more focused” than a full public inquiry.
She suggested it could be carried out by an independent KC, or led by a Holyrood committee.
Speaking to The Scotsman, she said: “The SNP is the party of government. They have had this huge financial, internal scandal. It can’t just get swept under the carpet.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie called for a parliamentary inquiry to examine the police investigation and the actions of senior SNP figures.
“If the SNP and John Swinney have nothing to hide, they have nothing to fear from such an inquiry,” she wrote in a letter to MSPs.
Mr Swinney said the issue had been “comprehensively” examined by the police, while the SNP had undertaken its own governance review.
“I’m confident that we have in place strong and robust governance procedures that I preside over as party leader, that provides all the necessary assurance that the SNP is a well governed party,” he said.
The First Minister added: “We know what happened. We know there was criminality. The rules were bypassed. The rules were undermined because there was criminality.
“So the answers are all there in the police investigation, and the reassurance I give to everybody who has got the wellbeing of the SNP at heart is that the SNP has got good, strong governance under my leadership, and it always will have.”
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