The SNP have called for a “full, independent inquiry” into whether Scottish Tory MP David Duguid has broken the ministerial code.
It comes following revelations Duguid, who represents Banff and Buchan, criticised the idea of a windfall tax on energy companies without declaring his wife’s shares in BP.
Duguid’s spouse has more than 11,000 shares and would have received more than £2000 last year in dividends.
The former junior minister in the Scotland Office has spoken against windfall taxes on energy giants four times in parliament since the beginning of 2022.
Duguid also voted against proposals to examine the impact of increasing windfall taxes, which would impact the dividends paid to shareholders.
The Guardian reported that an analysis of BP’s shareholder register suggests Duguid moved his shares into his wife’s name five years before he became an MP.
SNP MP Tommy Sheppard has now written to both the Cabinet Office and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards demanding “full transparency” on the issue.
Sheppard said: “Serious questions must now be asked as to whether David Duguid broke the ministerial code by failing to declare his wife’s huge shares in BP.
“This revelation underlines the argument that Scottish Tory MPs only have one interest, and that is their own personal gain.
“Would Duguid have had the same desire to oppose a windfall tax on energy companies if he wasn’t set to profit from it? I highly doubt it.
“That is why a full, independent inquiry is essential to clarify if Mr Duguid has, indeed, broken the ministerial code. Full transparency is absolutely key in order to get to the bottom of this.”
In the letter, Sheppard said the investigation by the Guardian raises questions about the processes for ministerial declarations, particularly concerning the declaration of interests of family members.
It states: “Despite Mr Duguid's involvement with energy policy in the Scotland Office, his wife's shares were also not included in the list of ministers' interests published by the Cabinet Office.
“As a junior minister, he held meetings with lobbyists from Oil and Gas UK (now known as Offshore Energies UK), which includes BP among its members, and he attended the opening of OEUK's new offices in Aberdeen in August 2021.
“You will be aware that the ministerial code explicitly requires newly appointed ministers to provide a list of all interests held by themselves, their spouses, and close family members that could present a conflict of interest.”
A spokesperson for Duguid has insisted the MP abided by the rules.
Since the start of 2022, the Tory MP has declared interest in BP in two debates in parliament, but only referencing his prior employment of 25 years in the oil and gas industry, 10 of which were spent working for BP.
Duguid was a junior minister in the Scotland Office under Boris Johnson between June 2020 and September 2021, and again, briefly, under Liz Truss in October 2022.
During his time as a minister, Duguid met nine times with lobbyists from the oil and gas trade association OEUK.
Under the current system, MPs are required to declare any holdings in a company over £70,000.
For ministers, all interests held by themselves, their spouses and family members that could give rise to a conflict must be provided to the department’s permanent secretary.
This includes shareholdings under the parliamentary threshold of £70,000, with a decision then made by the independent adviser on ministers' interests which “relevant” interests are published publicly.
A spokesperson for Duguid said: “Mr Duguid followed the prevailing rules for reporting relevant financial interests.”
