Spokesman declines to confirm whether Swinney would testify on Murrell inquiry

A spokesman for Scotland’s First Minister is refusing to say whether the First Minister, John Swinney, would give evidence to MPs as part of a potential inquiry into the case involving Murrell. The response comes after questions were raised about whether the Scottish Affairs Committee could hold a formal inquiry. According to reports, the spokesman was pressed on the likelihood of Swinney appearing before the committee and addressing issues connected to the matter. In the exchanges covered by outlets, the spokesman did not provide a clear confirmation or denial about whether Swinney would testify. The reporting focuses on the immediate question of parliamentary scrutiny and the prospect of committee proceedings rather than on any new substantive details about the Murrell case itself. The sources agree that the issue prompting the comments is the potential for the committee to call witnesses, and that the spokesman’s stance is to avoid committing to whether Swinney would participate as evidence is considered.