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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Senior Tory in Zimbabwe share row | Senior Tory in Zimbabwe share row |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve has defended his decision not to give up shares in major firms still operating in Zimbabwe. | Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve has defended his decision not to give up shares in major firms still operating in Zimbabwe. |
| Mr Grieve was among seven MPs named by the Independent on Sunday as having investments in the country. | |
| He said the Conservative Party expected firms in Zimbabwe to uphold "the highest ethical standards". | He said the Conservative Party expected firms in Zimbabwe to uphold "the highest ethical standards". |
| Tory leader David Cameron previously called on Zimbabwe investors to "examine their own responsibilities". | Tory leader David Cameron previously called on Zimbabwe investors to "examine their own responsibilities". |
| Mr Grieve owns at least £240,000 worth of shares in companies operating in the southern African country such as Shell, mining firms Rio Tinto and Anglo American and the Standard Chartered bank. | Mr Grieve owns at least £240,000 worth of shares in companies operating in the southern African country such as Shell, mining firms Rio Tinto and Anglo American and the Standard Chartered bank. |
| Mr Cameron, speaking last week, warned that businesses and individuals "must not make investments that prop up the regime". | Mr Cameron, speaking last week, warned that businesses and individuals "must not make investments that prop up the regime". |
| Robert Mugabe is expected to be sworn in as the President of Zimbabwe after an election, which drew international condemnation, in which he was the only candidate. | Robert Mugabe is expected to be sworn in as the President of Zimbabwe after an election, which drew international condemnation, in which he was the only candidate. |
| 'Highest standards' | 'Highest standards' |
| Other firms operating in Zimbabwe in which MPs have shares are Barclays, BP and Tesco. | Other firms operating in Zimbabwe in which MPs have shares are Barclays, BP and Tesco. |
| Mr Grieve said: "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." | Mr Grieve said: "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." |
| Shadow transport minister Robert Goodwill, who was also one of the named MPs, told the newspaper that he "did not feel particularly proud to be a Barclays shareholder". | Shadow transport minister Robert Goodwill, who was also one of the named MPs, told the newspaper that he "did not feel particularly proud to be a Barclays shareholder". |
| Mr Goodwill said it was better to bring pressure to bear as a shareholder but added that it was "not a very good time" to sell the shares. | Mr Goodwill said it was better to bring pressure to bear as a shareholder but added that it was "not a very good time" to sell the shares. |
| Meanwhile shadow business minister Jonathan Djanogly, who owns shares in Barclays, BP, Shell and Tesco, said shareholders "should be encouraged to make representations". | Meanwhile shadow business minister Jonathan Djanogly, who owns shares in Barclays, BP, Shell and Tesco, said shareholders "should be encouraged to make representations". |
| Totnes Tory MP Anthony Steen said he was unaware of the Zimbabwe links to his investments in Unilever and Shell. | Totnes Tory MP Anthony Steen said he was unaware of the Zimbabwe links to his investments in Unilever and Shell. |
| The other MPs listed were Tories Tim Boswell (Barclays and Tesco) and Sir John Stanley (Shell) and Liberal Democrat MP Sir Robert Smith (Rio Tinto and Shell). | The other MPs listed were Tories Tim Boswell (Barclays and Tesco) and Sir John Stanley (Shell) and Liberal Democrat MP Sir Robert Smith (Rio Tinto and Shell). |