Lords inquiry into Tory peer over nuclear firm's meeting with minister

The House of Lords watchdog has launched investigations into two peers following reporting by the Guardian.

- Rob Evans Henry Dyer

The watchdog will examine evidence that Ian Duncan potentially breached parliamentary rules when he facilitated an introduction between a government minister and the chief executive of the Canadian nuclear technology company Terrestrial Energy while he was on the company's advisory board. The second investigation is into "erroneous" expense claims by the Earl of Shrewsbury.

Five peers have now faced a conduct inquiry after a project by the Guardian examining the commercial interests of members of the upper chamber. Two others, Richard Dannatt and David Evans (Lord Evans of Watford) are under investigation. This month, the Labour peer Iain McNicol apologised for breaking the House of Lords code of conduct after he wrote to the Treasury to promote a cryptocurrency firm that was paying him.