The SNP has demanded Boris Johnson orders an investigation into whether Matt Hancock broke the ministerial code on multiple occasions following his shock resignation on Saturday.
The party also wants to know why Gina Coladangelo was appointed as an adviser and non-executive director at the UK Department of Health.
Kirsten Oswald MP said today it was essential that an independent investigation be launched to "shine a light on Tory cronyism" - or trust in the UK government will be further eroded.
It comes as Tory Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News today that an investigation was "a matter for the Cabinet Office", and said "I don't have that information" when asked if the relationship with Hancock began before Coladangelo's appointment but "if declarations weren't made then clearly that is highly irregular and inappropriate.... I don't know when the relationship began but I would expect that declarations should be made."
It follows reports over the weekend that Hancock "routinely used a private [email] account to conduct government business" - concealing information from government officials and the public, including over multi-million pound covid contracts.
Kirsten Oswald, the SNP's Westminster Depute Leader, said: "There are growing concerns that Matt Hancock routinely abused his position as Tory Health Secretary - and may have broken the ministerial code and the law on multiple occasions.
"It's essential that Boris Johnson orders an independent investigation to shine a light on Tory cronyism - or trust in the UK government will be eroded even further.
"The investigation must assess Mr Hancock's use of private email to conduct government business, his involvement in covid contracts that benefitted Tory friends and family, the appointment of Gina Coladangelo, and the repeated failure to declare relevant interests, including his relationship.
"The Prime Minister cannot be allowed to sweep the Tory cronyism scandal under the carpet. Taxpayers have a right to know why so many Tory friends and donors have been handed lucrative jobs, privileged access, peerages, and millions - if not billions - of pounds of public contracts at our expense.
"Boris Johnson has shown another failure of judgement by clinging on to Mr Hancock for so long - just like he did with Dominic Cummings. Questions over the Prime Minister's judgement will only grow if he fails to order an independent investigation."
She added: "Whether it's soliciting dodgy donations to refurbish the Downing Street flat, handing peerages to billionaire Tory donors, offering tax breaks by text, or unlawfully handing covid contracts to Tory associates, there is a growing stench of corruption and sleaze about this Tory government.
"The Westminster system is rotten to the core and broken beyond repair. Instead of putting up with it, Scotland can shake off Westminster and build a fairer and more democratic future as an independent country."
