NEW: A Westminster committee has agreed to wait for the result of Holyrood's vote on a Murrell inquiry before deciding whether to embark on "substantive work on this matter".
EXC: Westminster probe into Peter Murrell scandal could hold 'box office' hearings in Edinburgh.
EXC: Scottish Greens leader deletes tweet praising disgraced Peter Murrell for 25% pay hike.
Paul Hutcheon
Opinion | John Swinney will only step out of Nicola Sturgeon's shadow if he stops protecting her.
NEW: John Swinney's spokesperson repeatedly refuses to say he will cooperate with a Westminster probe into the Peter Murrell scandal.
He said a Commons inquiry would “destroy” the credibility of the Scottish Affairs committee and its Labour convener.
NEW: I asked the First Minister if he would cooperate with a Westminster probe into Murrell-gate: “We’ll see what happens.”
He was also asked when he last spoke to Nicola Sturgeon: "My personal conversations are thankfully not a matter for all of you.”
NEW: SNP quizzed on whether corrupt Peter Murrell had bank account access to public funds.
EXC: An SNP expert says an earlier guilty plea by Peter Murrell would have had a “major impact” on the Holyrood election, even risking the SNP/Green pro-indy majority.
EXCL: A Scottish Labour Holyrood candidate has launched a campaign for his party to become independent.
Jack McConnel's 'Just for Scotland' group backs "splitting" from UK Labour.
In an article for the Record, Inverclyde council leader Stephen McCabe writes on the challenges facing local authorities over the next 12 months.
He also focuses on the impact of Reform councillors getting elected next year.
