Jackie Baillie: “If Peter Murrell is now in a position to pay back legal aid, he should do so.”

Too often the SNP operates under a cloak of secrecy.

People across the country will wonder why Peter Murrell was able to qualify for legal aid in the first place, given his healthy salary as the SNP’s chief executive for so many years.

Public trust has been badly damaged by the SNP embezzlement scandal, which has not been helped by John Swinney refusing to answer important questions about how it ever took place.

The SNP has a responsibility to boost participation in this important scheme and make it as easy as possible for GPs to take part.