EXCLUSIVE: The Scottish Greens will not vote for a Labour plan for a Scottish Parliament probe.
Plans for a Holyrood inquiry into Peter Murrell’s corruption appear to be dead due to Scottish Green opposition to an MSP probe.
The Greens will vote against the plan this week after claiming an investigation would turn the Parliament into a “political circus”.
Crooked Murrell is facing jail time after he admitted embezzling over £400,000 of funds from the SNP when he was married to Nicola Sturgeon.
Rival parties say the scandal raises huge questions about SNP governance failings and whether public money was stolen.
Delays to the case and the length of time spent by the police investigating the theft have also come under scrutiny.
Scottish Labour want a Holyrood inquiry into the scandal and will force a vote on Wednesday.
With the SNP opposed to a probe, the Scottish Greens are have the power to green light or block an investigation.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens said they will vote against the inquiry proposal:
“Peter Murrell’s crimes were a terrible breach of the trust of SNP members and supporters. He will now face the consequences of that.
“If further investigations are needed, they should be led by the independent Electoral Commission or Police Scotland, not political parties.
“There is an obvious conflict of interest in parties ‘investigating’ each other like this, not to mention the cost on top of the millions already spent on the police investigation.
“Scottish Green MSPs will focus on delivering policies that save people money and protect our planet. That is what all parties should focus on, rather than trying to turn our justice system into a political circus.”
If Holyrood refuses to launch a probe, Westminster’s Scottish Affairs committee is ready to embark on its own investigation.
It is understood the committee has already begun a scoping exercise on a potential probe.
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