Three Holyrood committees have declined to work with MPs on further scrutiny of party finances following the Peter Murrell embezzlement scandal.
The Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster had asked the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee, Public Audit Committee and Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee to explore joint work on issues arising from Operation Branchform and the misuse of SNP campaign funds.
The request was made in July after the Westminster committee agreed that its chairwoman, Patricia Ferguson, should contact counterparts in Edinburgh about a possible joint investigation.
However, the Finance Committee said the matter fell outside its remit. Its convener, Clare Haughey, noted that the SNP had not received public funds such as Short Money while governing in Scotland, unlike its position as an opposition party at Westminster.
The Public Audit Committee said it had consulted the Auditor General for Scotland but concluded that the issue did not concern the use of public money, which is central to its work.
Neil Bibby, the committee’s convener, said its focus was on how public money was spent “and not on the funding of political parties”.
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee also said it was not clear that the issues raised by the Scottish Affairs Committee fitted its remit or current priorities. Its convener, Jenni Minto, said questions about devolved electoral law could arise during future evidence sessions involving the Electoral Commission and other bodies.
Ms Ferguson said the Scottish Affairs Committee would consider the responses later this week.
Murrell, the former SNP chief executive and ex-husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison in June after admitting to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.
Police Scotland said the money had been taken over a sustained period, with Murrell convicted following the force’s Operation Branchform investigation.
