SCOTTISH Labour called today for an independent investigation into whether the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC breached the ministerial code over Peter Murrell’s prosecution.

It emerged that on January 19, Ms Bain had briefed First Minister John Swinney on Mr Murrell being charged with embezzling nearly £460,000 from the SNP during his decades-long tenure as chief executive.

That briefing came weeks before his charges were made public, prompting Labour to urge the Scottish government’s independent advisers on the ministerial code to investigate a possible breach.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “By the lord advocate sharing that information with John Swinney, it means that John Swinney and the SNP knew too before the public.

“That does not sound right to me.”

A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service spokesperson said: “The lord advocate is committed to ensuring that Parliament is properly informed.

“She undertook to provide Parliament with additional information and will do so.”

The Scottish government said Mr Swinney had “absolute confidence in the lord advocate in undertaking her duties,” adding: “Baseless suggestions have been made without evidence.”