Jack McConnell calls for joint Holyrood-Westminster inquiry into Murrell scandal

Former first minister Jack McConnell has called for a joint investigation at Holyrood and Westminster into Peter Murrell’s embezzlement of SNP funds.

The Labour peer said the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee should hold a probe with the equivalent Holyrood committee.

Speaking to The Scotsman, Lord McConnell said: “This is about the fact that because the SNP were the third largest party at Westminster for the best part of 10 years.

“They received over that time millions of pounds of public money to organise their party affairs.

“Obviously there are also issues about signing off accounts, and how seriously that was all taken, and I think on all these areas there are issues to be looked at, and recommendations that must be made.

“So, I think this should be a joint public inquiry.”

Murrell plead guilty to embezzling £400,000 from the SNP at the High Court in Edinburgh last week.

Giving her first major interview since the guilty plea, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon – Murrell’s estranged wife – said she “rejected completely” the idea that figures within the party were attempting to raise concerns about the “behaviour that Peter plead guilty to on Monday”.

She said: “I will take responsibility for the things I do, the decisions I make. I’m sitting here with you right now, answering questions because I believe strongly in that accountability.

“But I am not responsible for the crimes that my former husband committed and I’m not going to apologise for somebody else’s crimes.”