Tory quits his front bench role after rules breach

A Tory MSP has quit his front bench role at Holyrood after failing to mention he holds 50,000 shares in a firm when he lobbied local councillors about a planning application.

North East MSP Peter Chapman has stood down as the Conservative’s rural affairs spokesman.

It comes after he asked councillors to support an application by Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) Group to expand their site in Inverurie.

Mr Chapman, a local farmer in the area, owns 50,000 shares in the group – but insisted he would not stand to gain if the expansion does get the go ahead.

However he accepted he had failed to declare his interest in conversations he had with councillors.

Mr Chapman said: “It’s quite clear with hindsight that I should have made my financial interest in the phone calls clear and that it was a foolish oversight on my behalf not to do so.

“I failed to maintain the high standards of transparency that is expected of MSPs.

“As a result, I cannot in all conscience continue in my post.”

He added: “It was not my intention to hide this. Indeed anyone can see the details of my investment on the Scottish Parliament register of interests.

“I can say hand on heart that my only thought was to support a local business and improve our local economy.”