SNP’s vetting woes as another MP probed

NICOLA Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell are facing fresh questions over the SNP’s vetting procedures as it emerged an MP is being investigated by Westminster’s standards watchdog.

Nationalist MP Phil Boswell is being probed over allegations he contravened parliamentary rules by failing to register his financial interests.

A complaint was made accusing the Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill MP of failing properly to record his directorship of Boswell and Johnston Ltd.

Mr Murrell is the SNP’s chief executive. Before the General Election, his wife was asked in an interview what would happen if any of the SNP candidates ‘blow up’ after becoming MPs. The First Minister replied: ‘Ultimately, the buck stops with me. That’s part of being a leader.’

Yesterday, it was revealed that Nationalist MP Lisa Cameron campaigned against the sell-off of social housing despite building a property empire of ex-council flats.

Colleague Natalie McGarry was suspended last year amid a police investigation into claims up to £30,000 had vanished from the Women for Independence group’s accounts.

Earlier in 2015, Nationalist MP Michelle Thomson was also suspended amid a police investigation into her mortgage deals.

Companies House records show Mr Boswell is the sole director of Boswell and Johnston, but his register of financial interests fails to mention the firm.

He is being investigated by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Hudson, who can refer the case to Parliament’s Committee on Standards if she finds there has been a serious breach. MPs would then decide what sanctions he faced.

An SNP spokesman said: ‘Phil Boswell sought advice from the Register of Interests and as the rules set out by the Commissioner for Standards makes clear, the inquiry does not imply there has been a breach of the rules of the House.’

But Tory MSP Alex Johnstone said: ‘The news another two SNP MPs are embroiled in yet more allegations of dodgy dealings does nothing for the credibility of the SNP. It obviously needs to look at its vetting procedures, as there seem to be a lot of undesirables slipping through the net.’