Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's deputy leader, has described a Scottish Greens amendment to a call for an inquiry into Peter Murrell's embezzlement of £400,000 from the SNP as a 'smokescreen'. The vote took place at Holyrood on Wednesday evening, where Labour's call for an inquiry to 'restore public trust in Scottish politics' was rejected. MSPs instead favoured the Greens' suggestion of a wider independent review into party political finances, and the Green amendment, which removed Labour's call for a Holyrood inquiry, was passed.
Baillie's Criticism
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast programme on Thursday, Baillie stated that the SNP is 'sweeping things under the carpet'. She said: 'The Greens amendment that they moved is literally a smokescreen and a place, if you like, that affords cover for the SNP. This is about, as far as the Government and the SNP are concerned, sweeping things under the carpet, nothing to see here, we have just to trust them.'
Baillie emphasised the seriousness of the situation, calling it 'probably one of the biggest scandals that I have witnessed in Scotland in the Scottish Parliament'. She noted that it impacts all politicians, not just the SNP, as public trust is further undermined. She stressed the need for a cross-party parliamentary inquiry to address questions unrelated to the internal workings of the SNP, such as the length and cost of the police investigation.
Scottish Labour's Participation
When asked whether Scottish Labour would take part in the inquiry voted through Holyrood, Baillie confirmed: 'If an inquiry is set up, we will of course take part.' Meanwhile, MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster could still launch their own investigation. The committee has indicated that Holyrood is the 'most appropriate place for an inquiry', but MPs are waiting to see if there is any change at the Scottish Parliament before deciding on further action.
Government Response
Scottish Public Service Reform Secretary Ivan McKee appeared on the same programme and defended the SNP's position. He said: 'The SNP are the victims here, it's important to recognise that, and the motion that was passed yesterday which we supported, brought forward by the Greens, was for an inquiry into all political parties.' McKee added that issues regarding how the SNP handled whistleblowing, complaints, and party finances are matters for the party itself, and he noted that the party has 'completely changed the governance'. He concluded: 'What we are focused on is making sure that the governance we've got in place now delivers what it needs to, which it is doing, and taking part in the inquiry that Parliament voted for yesterday, into all political parties, which I think is a correct way to approach this.'
Green MSP's Statement
Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie defended the amendment, stating: 'What the Scottish Greens proposed is the bare minimum that any democrat should support, rather than the childish and self-serving nonsense that was offered by a Labour Party that has just achieved the worst election result in its history.' He argued that further investigations into the Peter Murrell saga should be led by Police Scotland or the Electoral Commission, not by MSPs treating it as a 'political circus'. Harvie added: 'Parliament has voted for an independent process and we hope it is one that the Labour Party co-operate with, rather than obstructing and undermining it before it has even begun. People across Scotland are sick of the wealthiest people having the loudest voice. All parties have a role if we are to restore trust.'
