Holyrood committees reject Westminster call for Murrell case scrutiny

Three parliamentary committees at Holyrood have officially declined an invitation to engage in joint scrutiny regarding the SNP finance scandal, rebuffing an overture from Westminster lawmakers as political tensions intensify over the embezzlement case involving Peter Murrell, according to the Herald.

The refusal marks the latest institutional standoff surrounding the fallout from the financial misconduct. Murrell, the former SNP chief executive and husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was jailed for more than five years after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from party coffers while serving in his role, spending the cash on luxury items such as a motorhome, cars, and household goods. Following these developments, the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee sought to explore collaborative oversight into themes tied to Operation Branchform and the misuse of campaign money.

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However, responses from Edinburgh's parliamentary leadership slammed the door on joint working. Clare Haughey, convener of the Finance Committee, stated that the matter falls outside her panel's remit, noting that unlike opposition parties receiving specific public grants such as short money, the governing SNP does not draw on those particular funding streams at Holyrood. Neil Bibby, head of the Public Audit Committee, reported consulting the Auditor General for Scotland and concluding that public auditors focus on how public money is spent rather than internal political party funding. Meanwhile, Jenni Minto of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee indicated that while the panel handles devolved electoral law matters and takes evidence from the Electoral Commission, the current issues do not align with its immediate priorities.

The rejection in Edinburgh follows a contentious vote at the Scottish Parliament where pro-independence MSPs defeated a Labour push for a parliamentary inquiry. As reported by the Daily Mail, SNP and Green members instead approved an independent review into the funding of all political parties. Scottish First Minister John Swinney has consistently defended this approach, arguing that a lengthy police investigation spanning five years and costing more than £2 million has already concluded and that the administration is focused on voter priorities like the NHS, the cost of living, new support for first-time buyers, and a massive childcare expansion.

Critics, including Scottish Conservative shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie, have fiercely condemned the blockade. Mr Bowie argued that unanswered questions persist regarding governance, oversight, and whether public grants or taxpayer funds might have been exposed to misuse, pointing out that the SNP received significant public grants during the period in question, including policy development funding distributed via the Electoral Commission, which may have been pooled with other party resources. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie accused the governing party of hiding behind a culture of secrecy.

At Westminster, the push for an independent parliamentary probe continues to divide lawmakers. SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan blasted the proposed House of Commons inquiry as a party political stunt and an unprecedented abuse of the committee system. Writing on the prospect, the Scottish Daily Express noted that committee members have weighed examining broader allegations, including questions directed at institutions such as the Crown Office and Police Scotland, as well as whether pressure was put on Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC to leave the criminal investigation conclusion for Peter Murrell until after the Scottish Parliament election, and whether treasurers were restricted access to the books by anyone other than Murrell.

Former Scottish Affairs Committee chairman Pete Wishart warned that a Westminster investigation into a Scottish political party risks undermining cross-party consensus and trust, noting that it took years to rebuild credibility after past tensions. A Crown Office spokesperson maintained that professional prosecutors from COPFS and independent counsel handled the legal proceedings independently of political influence, without involving the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General.

Committee chair Patricia Ferguson confirmed that the Scottish Affairs Committee will review the responses received from Holyrood to determine its next steps. Further developments are anticipated as Westminster MPs weigh whether to proceed with an inquiry independently.