SCOTTISH Labour has urged Westminster's sleaze watchdog to launch a full investigation into whether former SNP MP Michelle Thomson broke parliamentary rules or brought the House of Commons into disrepute over her property dealings.
Jackie Baillie, the party's public services spokeswoman, said Kathryn Hudson, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, should "strongly consider" a formal probe.
The call comes after a Conservative backbencher, Andrew Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire, wrote to the commissioner requesting an inquiry.
Police Scotland have launched an investigation into 13 property deals carried out on Ms Thomson’s behalf.
Her solicitor, Christopher Hales, has already been struck off by the Law Society of Scotland which found some transactions carried a risk of mortgage fraud.
Some of the deals involved buying houses at knockdown prices from people in financial difficulty and selling them on at a profit later the same day.
A spokeswoman for Ms Hudson said a decision would be taken within the next week.
It raises the possibility an inquiry could be launched just as SNP members gather for their annual conference in Aberdeen, which begins next Thursday.
Edinburgh West MP Ms Thomson, who had been made business spokeswoman in the Commons, withdrew from the whip and was automatically suspended as a party member when it emerged police were investigating.
Ms Baillie said: "At the heart of this case are vulnerable people who have been taken advantage of during the course of predatory property deals involving SNP politicians.
"There is an issue here about morality, and the ethics we expect from public servants.
"Whilst Michelle Thomson continues to profess that she has not committed any crime, we do know she has been involved in property deals which ask serious questions about her character and her integrity.
"With questions being asked about the integrity of the business dealings of the SNP’s business spokeswoman, the commissioner should strongly consider an investigation."
Ms Thomson denies any wrongdoing and has made clear she will co-operate fully with the police inquiry.
The standards commissioner is duty-bound to look into any complaint made against an MP to see whether or not it is within her remit and if there is sufficient evidence to justify a full inquiry.
If there is evidence of a serious breach of the MPs' code of conduct, the matter is considered by the Commons Standards Committee, which can lead to an MP being suspended for a period of time, having their pay halted during this period or being expelled from parliament.
The code of conduct makes clear MPs have to uphold the law and act at all times with probity and in the public interest.
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