Nicola Sturgeon's top ally backs inquiry into Peter Murrell corruption scandal

One of Nicola Sturgeon’s closest aides in Government has backed an independent inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal . Noel Dolan said the SNP should appoint a KC from outside Scotland to chair a probe that should have police involvement. Corrupt Murrell, who was SNP chief executive for decades until 2023, pled guilty last week to embezzling over £400,000 from the party. A twelve year crime spree, spanning 2010 to 2022, including using SNP charge cards for his own personal game and faking invoices as CEO to cover his tracks.

Sturgeon, his estranged wife, has insisted she knew nothing about his crimes. Murrell's thieving has prompted calls from across the political divide for a parliamentary inquiry into SNP governance failures. Dolan, who was Sturgeon’s senior special adviser when she was Deputy First Minister, has now entered the fray. He said of the scandal: “I do think that as this directly relates to the governance of the SNP the party should set up an independent inquiry chaired by a KC from outwith Scotland. “The remit of the inquiry should be determined in conjunction with the independent chairperson. “The Inquiry must be independent and report back to the party with all due haste. “I would hope that the SNP, Police Scotland and the Crown Office would be as open and helpful as possible.” He also said he regretted that Murrell’s career had ended “so tragically”.

Despite mounting calls for an inquiry, no consensus has emerged on who should take the lead. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie is pushing for a Holyrood-led probe and is likely to force a vote next week. If MSPs vote down this proposal, members of Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee are ready to take over. Lord McConnell, a former Labour first minister, has called for a joint investigation by Holyrood and Westminster.

However, Swinney remains opposed to an inquiry into the biggest scandal in his party’s history, arguing that the police probe that exposed Murrell’s crime is sufficient. “I don’t think there’s a case for that,” he said. “We’ve actually had a thorough and comprehensive police investigation that’s lasted for many years. “The legal processes have taken their course. The legal process has worked.”