Tory MPs own Zimbabwe shares

An Independent on Sunday investigation has found that senior Conservative MPs own shares in companies propping up Robert Mugabe's regime.

Despite the fact David Cameron has called on all companies and individuals with "any dealings" in Zimbabwe to examine their consciences and ensure that they are not keeping Mugabe in power shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve heads a list of Tory MPs with sizeable shareholdings in companies involved with the dictaroship.

The companies include Anglo American, the mining giant rebuked last week for pushing ahead with a new £200m platinum mine in Zimbabwe, Rio Tinto, Standard Chartered, Barclays, Shell and BP.

Cameron had earlier said: "Any arrangements we enter into are ones we are prepared to protect and defend in a court of public opinion.

"Anyone who flies under the Conservative banner carries a wider responsibility to the reputation of the party."

The paper concedes that the seven MPs at the centre of the Zimbabwe row have not broken any rules, critics have asked if it was morally right to own shares in firms giving a lifeline to Mugabe.

Grieve has insisted the shares had been declared in the "proper way". He added: "The Conservative Party has made it clear that companies operating in Zimbabwe must adhere to the highest ethical standards and I fully endorse that view."

Grieve owns shares in Anglo American, Standard Chartered, Rio Tinto and Shell. Each investment is worth more than £60,000 – meaning his total shareholdings are more than £240,000.

One shadow minister, Robert Goodwill, admitted he was "not proud" to be a shareholder in Barclays, but said it was "not a very good time to sell shares". The suggestion that he was concerned about the stock market was described as "despicable".