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Labour has accused the Scottish Greens of “standing in the way” of public scrutiny after the party said it would not support a Holyrood inquiry into Peter Murrell’s embezzlement of SNP funds.

Labour is to bring a parliamentary debate and vote on Wednesday on an inquiry into the former SNP chief executive’s wrongdoing.

Without the Greens’ support it looks certain to be voted down as SNP leader John Swinney has already confirmed his party will not support a probe.

Last month Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP over 12 years during his time as the party’s chief executive.

He is to be sentenced later this month.

In a statement a Scottish Greens spokesperson said Murrell’s crimes were a “terrible breach of trust”, but that a parliamentary inquiry would risk turning the justice system into a “political circus”.

“If further investigations are needed, they should be led by the independent Electoral Commission or Police Scotland, not political parties,” the spokesperson said.

“There is an obvious conflict of interest in parties ‘investigating’ each other like this, not to mention the cost on top of the millions already spent on the police investigation.

“Scottish Green MSPs will focus on delivering policies that save people money and protect our planet.

“That is what all parties should focus on, rather than trying to turn our justice system into a political circus.”

Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie urged the Greens to reconsider, saying “the SNP cannot be allowed to avoid scrutiny”.

“By refusing to back our vote for a parliamentary inquiry, the Scottish Greens are standing in the way of the answers Scots deserve and directly preventing parliament from performing its role to scrutinise the Government and to ensure transparency and openness in our politics,” she said.

“An inquiry is not about scrutiny of the SNP’s internal processes, it’s about considering whether public money has been misused.

“I urge them to reconsider their position and allow an inquiry to take place.

“The SNP cannot be allowed to avoid scrutiny and continue to degrade people’s trust in politics and politicians.”

First Minister Mr Swinney previously rejected calls for an investigation into Murrell’s offending, saying: “The problem was criminal behaviour and the police have identified that and the individual involved has been prosecuted.

“You cannot get any inquiry more detailed than a police inquiry, and I think we should all respect the fact there has been a detailed inquiry into all the issues.”