The scandal surrounding jailed former SNP chief Peter Murrell is set to be investigated by peers in the House of Lords, the Mail can reveal.
MSPs voted down an inquiry in Scotland after the Greens joined the SNP to oppose a call for a Holyrood probe.
It comes after a Tory MP demanded an inquiry after claiming Nicola Sturgeon lied about the scandal and stitched up former First Minister Alex Salmond to hide the truth.
Sir David Davis, who was a close friend of Mr Salmond, launched an explosive intervention in the Commons last month when he made a series of claims that Ms Sturgeon knew of the crimes Murrell carried out – something she strongly denies.
The Mail spoke to a senior cross-bench peer who did not want to be named as they believed they may be drafted in to lead an inquiry or play a part in
