QUESTIONS are “piling up” over Peter Murrell’s looting of SNP funds and only a full inquiry can restore trust in politics, Scottish Labour claimed today.

In the wake of Mr Murrell admitting embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP to fund a 12-year spending spree, Labour has tabled a motion calling for the Scottish Parliament to conduct an inquiry into the “implications and lessons to be learned” from the affair.

Despite demands from across the political spectrum, including from former SNP parliamentarians, for an inquiry, First Minister John Swinney has so far refused, insisting last week: “We’ve had a police investigation, there can be no higher investigation and more forensic investigation than a police investigation.”

With the backing of the Scottish Greens, whose spokesperson this week argued a parliamentary inquiry risked turning the justice system into a “political circus,” Mr Swinney is likely to defeat Labour’s motion tomorrow.

But as concerns grow that the SNP may have reclaimed VAT on some of Mr Murrell’s luxury purchases, Labour’s deputy leader Dame Jackie Bailie said: “Questions are piling up about the circumstances surrounding Peter Murrell’s crime spree and with public money potentially misused, John Swinney’s ‘nothing to see here’ act is becoming increasingly untenable.

“This is a matter of trust and integrity in politics and public life.

“If John Swinney has nothing to hide, he should welcome the chance to get answers on this sordid affair — but for some reason he is determined to try and dodge scrutiny.

“The SNP should have led the way, setting up this inquiry, but instead it falls to Parliament to demand the truth.

“Scotland deserves answers, and I hope [today], MSPs across the chamber will back transparency over cover-up.”