Labour Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq has quit amid growing pressure after a corruption probe opened in Bangladesh
Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq has quit after becoming embroiled in a corruption investigation, No10 has announced.
The Labour frontbencher had faced calls to step down after authorities in Bangladesh opened a probe into her aunt, former PM Sheikh Hasina. In a letter to Keir Starmer, Ms Siddiq wrote that while there is “no evidence” of any wrongdoing, continuing in her role would be a “distraction”.
The Prime Minister has come under pressure to sack Ms Siddiq after Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission (ACC) filed a case against Ms Hasina and her wider family. Ms Siddiq, who denies wrongdoing, faces questions over reports she lived in properties in London linked to allies of her aunt.
Her resignation came just hours after Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis said he was “getting on with doing her job”. In a letter to the Prime Minister Ms Siddiq wrote: “I want to assure you that I acted and have continued to act with full transparency and on the advice of officials on these matters.
“However, it is clear that continuing in my role as Economic Secretary to the Treasury is likely to be a distraction from the work of the Government”.
She voluntarily referred herself to the Government’s ethics advisor, Sir Laurie Magnus, who concluded that she had not breached the Ministerial Code. However Sir Laurie said it was “regrettable that she was not more alert to the potential reputational risks”.
Authorities in Bangladesh allege that Ms Hasina and her family embezzled billions of dollars from a nuclear power deal with Russia. Ms Siddiq was named in court documents in Bangladesh – submitted by a political rival of the former PM – claiming she allegedly helped her aunt broker the deal.
In her resignation letter Ms Siddiq, who will be replaced by Emma Reynolds, wrote: “As you know, having conducted an in-depth review of the matter at my request, Sir Laurie has confirmed that I have not breached the Ministerial Code. As he notes, there is no evidence to suggest that I have acted improperly in relation to the properties I have owned or lived in, nor to suggest that any of my assets “derive from anything other than legitimate means.
“My family connections are a matter of public record, and when I became a Minister I provided the full details of my relationships and private interests to the Government. After extensive consultation with officials, I was advised to state in my declaration of interests that my aunt is the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and to recuse myself from matters relating to Bangladesh to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest.
“I want to assure you that I acted and have continued to act with full transparency and on the advice of officials on these matters.”
In a letter released by No10, Mr Starmer responded to the quitting minister: “I want to thank you for self-referring to the Independent Adviser and for your full co-operation with the establishment of facts.
“I appreciate that to end ongoing distraction from delivering our agenda to change Britain, you have made a difficult decision and want to be clear that the door remains open for you going forward.”
Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokeswoman Sarah Olney said: “It’s right Tulip Siddiq resigned, you can’t have an anti-corruption minister mired in a corruption scandal. After years of Conservative sleaze and scandal, people rightly expected better from this Government.”
And Tory leader Kemi Badenoch posted on Twitter/X: “It was clear at the weekend that the anti-corruption minister’s position was completely untenable. Yet Keir Starmer dithered and delayed to protect his close friend.
“Even now, as Bangladesh files a criminal case against Tulip Siddiq, he expresses ‘sadness’ at her inevitable resignation. Weak leadership from a weak Prime Minister.”