Scottish opposition leaders demand inquiries into SNP chief and minister scandals

Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole‑Hamilton urged a parliamentary inquiry into the actions of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, condemning the “saga around the SNP’s finances” and calling for powers to sack MSPs for proven misconduct. He argued that the government has blocked mechanisms to challenge bad behaviour and called for stronger safeguarding checks on elected officials.

Separately, SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan wrote to the UK government asking for a probe into Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander after it emerged that Alexander failed to disclose a 2024 meeting with Lord Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm Global Council. The letter cited messages in which Alexander praised Mandelson and raised concerns about potential breaches of the ministerial code, noting the firm’s links to Chinese state organisations and sanction‑hit Russian oligarchs. Both calls reflect heightened scrutiny over transparency and accountability in Scottish politics.