Veteran Labour peer Lord Foulkes of Cumnock plans to intensify pressure on the Scottish National Party (SNP) regarding the Peter Murrell scandal by pursuing a House of Lords inquiry. Lord Foulkes revealed his intention to discuss the prospect of parliamentary action with colleagues from various parties and crossbenchers when Parliament reconvenes.
He stated that an investigation is "essential," directly contradicting SNP leader John Swinney's assertion that Peter Murrell's recent conviction and prison sentence for embezzlement should conclude the matter. This intervention follows reports this month that peers were actively considering a Lords inquiry into the affair.
Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive and estranged husband of ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was at the center of an investigation into the party's finances. He was sentenced in June to five years in prison for embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP's funds over a 12-year period. The scandal has amplified demands for greater transparency and oversight in the management and financing of political parties.
Lord Foulkes expressed that a judge-led investigation ordered by the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) would be the ideal solution. However, he acknowledged this is now unlikely after Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted down such an inquiry in June, with the Greens joining the Scottish National Party in opposition.
"An inquiry is essential. Ideally, it should be a judge-led inquiry initiated by Holyrood – that is now unlikely," Lord Foulkes told the Mail. He suggested that the Westminster Parliament could step in, proposing a House of Commons inquiry by the Scottish Affairs Committee as an appropriate measure. "If they are not prepared to do that, the Lords could step in," he added.
Lord Foulkes disclosed his previous attempts to raise the issue formally in Parliament, including tabling an oral parliamentary question that was not selected in the ballot. "When we return on September 1, I will be discussing this with colleagues from all parties and crossbenchers," he said, indicating that these remarks are expected to increase pressure on the SNP regarding the need for a comprehensive public examination of the circumstances surrounding the financial scandal.
A select committee inquiry in the House of Lords possesses significant powers, including the ability to issue formal summonses to witnesses and order the production of documents. Refusal to comply with such orders could lead to accusations of contempt of Parliament, potentially resulting in fines or imprisonment. Meanwhile, MPs on Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee are still considering whether to investigate the affair. Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie stated, "The truth deserves to be revealed about crooked Murrell’s crimes and how the culture within the party he led allowed him to get away with it for so long."