SNP demand inquiry over wife of ex-minister critical of windfall tax having shares in BP

Former minister David Duguid was previously a BP shareholder, with the SNP calling for an “independent inquiry” after it was revealed his wife holds shares with the energy giant

The SNP has called for a “full, independent inquiry” into whether Scottish Tory MP David Duguid has broken the ministerial code.

It follows revelations Mr Duguid criticised the idea of a windfall tax on energy companies without declaring his wife’s £50,000 in shares in energy giants BP.

Mr Duguid has previously voted against proposals to examine the impact of increasing taxes on energy companies and has spoken out against potential windfall taxes on four separate occasions since 2022.

The SNP is calling for David Duguid to be investigated after it was revealed his wife holds shares with BP. Picture: Andy Buchanan/Getty Images.

Tommy Sheppard MP has now written to both the Cabinet Office and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, demanding “full transparency” on the issue.

He 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 Mr 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.

David Duguid has previously been a BP shareholder.

“That is why a full, independent enquiry 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.”

Mr Duguid has condemned the policy of a windfall tax in Parliament four times since the beginning of last year, and also voted against proposals to examine the impact of increasing such taxes.

The MP for Banff and Buchan, Mr Duguid was previously a junior minister in the department from June 2020 until September 2021 under Boris Johnson, and again in Liz Truss’s short-lived administration in October 2022.

His wife’s shares were not published in the list of ministers’ interests published by the Cabinet Office.

Tommy Sheppard has called for an inquiry into whether Scottish Tory MP David Duguid has broken the ministerial code.

As a minister involved in energy, Mr Duguid has met with lobbyists from the trade association Oil and Gas UK, now known as Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), nine times.

OEUK’s members include BP and its recent activity has included arguing against an increase in windfall taxes on energy producers such as BP and Shell.

The ministerial code requires newly appointed ministers to provide a list of all the interests held by themselves, their spouses and close family members that could create a conflict, including shareholdings under £70,000.

It then up to the independent adviser on ministers’ interests to decide which “relevant” interests are published.

Scotland Office minister David Duguid has condemned the windfall tax policy in Parliament four times since the beginning of last year. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

BP’s shareholder register shows Mr Duguid stopped being a shareholder in BP in November 2012, on the same day his wife joined the company’s register of members. He was first elected in 2017.

Also vice-chair of the British offshore oil and gas industry all-party parliamentary group, Mr Duguid recently suggested in Parliament that plans proposed by Labour to ban new oil and gas drilling were “based on ideology”.

The Scottish Tory is one of several dozen MPs who have shares in companies that could be affected by legislation or new policy introduced by parliament. These include the likes of Barclays, HSBC, BP and Sainsbury’s.

A spokesperson for the former Scottish Office minister said: “Mr Duguid followed the prevailing rules for reporting relevant financial interests.”