Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has called for a full inquiry into the SNP following former chief executive Peter Murrell’s guilty plea over embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.
Philp told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that there “should definitely be an inquiry because trust in politics has been fundamentally undermined by the Scottish Nationalist chief executive stealing money from his own supporters.”
He added that the matter must be properly examined, saying “it’s right this is properly investigated because trust in politics has been undermined, and we need to get to the bottom of it.”
Philp also stated that Murrell’s ex-wife and former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon “has more questions to answer as well,” widening pressure on the party’s former leadership.
Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden also expressed his support for an inquiry when questioned about Murrell’s embezzlement on the same programme on Sunday morning.
McFadden argued the SNP’s long grip on power made scrutiny essential, saying the party had been “the dominant force in Scottish politics for 20 years” with dominance extending “to society and culture.”
He said that dominance had been “protected by a claim to virtue, which is often denied to those elsewhere in the UK, particularly to England,” framing the scandal in broader political terms.
McFadden separately told Times Radio the SNP had “surrounded itself by this culture of secrecy and control,” and suggested Westminster should lead any probe given SNP leader John Swinney’s rejection of calls for an investigation.
McFadden acknowledged political scandals are not unique to one party, saying “the only response to it is to publish everything, get it out of the door.”
Murrell pleaded guilty at Edinburgh’s High Court last Monday, admitting he used “false or inaccurate accounting codes and descriptions for the purchase of said items” to “disguise the true nature of said purchases.”
Sturgeon, also appearing on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, refused to say sorry for what she described as “somebody else’s” crimes, distancing herself from her estranged husband’s actions.
She told Kuenssberg: “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.”
She concluded firmly: “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.”