Tories demand SNP chief executive appears at Alex Salmond inquiry or face vote on First Minister 'misleading Parliament'

The Scottish Conservatives have warned Nicola Sturgeon they will force a vote on whether she misled Parliament if her husband and chief executive of the SNP fails to appear in front of the Alex Salmond inquiry for a second time.

Peter Murrell, Chief Executive, Scottish National Party declined an invitation to appear in front of the Salmond Inquiry

Peter Murrell on Monday declined an invitation to appear in front of the committee after he was asked to return due to concerns he gave testimony that was "clearly at odds” with other evidence.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, said the refusal to return to the committee meant the First Minister had misled Parliament when she said her party, the SNP, would co-operate fully with the inquiries.

The harassment complaints committee is examining the botched handling of sexual harassment complaints against former first minister Salmond.

Mr Salmond was acquitted of sexual offence charges in a trial last year and was handed £500,000 in legal costs after successfully challenging the Scottish Government’s complaints process via judicial review after it was conceded on the grounds of being “tainted by apparent bias”.

Mr Ross said his party would submit a motion through party business to force a vote on whether Ms Sturgeon misled Parliament when she said her party would co-operate fully.

On October 1 last year in Holyrood, the First Minister said: “The SNP had no involvement in the Scottish Government complaints process, but the SNP will also put forward answers to the questions that the committee asks of it and has already done so, as anybody can go to the committee’s website and see with their own two eyes. It will continue to co-operate fully.”

Mr Ross said: “Nicola Sturgeon promised that her party would ‘co-operate fully’ with the inquiry.

“If the SNP chief executive won’t even show up, that promise has clearly been broken and she has misled the Scottish Parliament.

“Nicola Sturgeon can change this. It’s her party. The chief executive works for her. She should demand he at least shows up.

“We know why he doesn’t want to appear. Peter Murrell is running scared of claims that he perjured himself.

“The SNP cannot dodge scrutiny forever. Either the SNP chief executive faces the inquiry or the SNP leader apologises for misleading Parliament.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.

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