THE Scottish Greens amendment to Labour’s call for an inquiry into Peter Murrell’s looting of SNP funds was called “a smokescreen” today.

Holyrood debated Labour’s motion for a parliamentary inquiry into the affair on Wednesday, but a Green amendment calling for a wider independent review into party political finances won SNP support and the vote.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie told BBC Radio Scotland:: “The Greens amendment is literally a smokescreen that affords cover for the SNP.

“This is probably one of the biggest scandals that I have witnessed in Scotland in the Scottish Parliament, and it doesn’t just impact on the SNP, it impacts on all our politicians, because the lack of trust that the public have is further undermined, so we do need a parliamentary inquiry.”

On the same programme, Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie hit back: “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.”