Tulip Siddiq resigns as Treasury minister
Tulip Siddiq has resigned as a Treasury minister after controversy over links to her aunt’s ousted political movement in Bangladesh.
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, the Hampstead and Highgate MP said that while she had “not breached the ministerial code”, it is clear that continuing in her post would be “a distraction from the work of the government”.
Politics Live: Reaction to minister’s resignation
Ms Siddiq has been under pressure over allegations about properties linked to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed as Bangladesh’s prime minister in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership.
She previously insisted she had “done nothing wrong” but referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog, Sir Laurie Magnus, last week.
In a letter to Sir Keir, the independent adviser called it “regrettable” that Ms Siddiq “was not more alert to the potential reputational risks” arising from her close family’s association with Bangladesh.
He said this “shortcoming” should not be taken as a breach of the ministerial code, “but you will want to consider her ongoing responsibilities in the light of this”.
Sir Laurie reviewed Ms Siddiq’s financial affairs and the background of properties she owns or has occupied and said he found no evidence of any “improprieties” in her actions.
In his reply, Sir Keir said he has accepted Ms Siddiq’s resignation “with sadness”, adding: “I also wish to be clear that Sir Laurie Magnus as Independent Adviser has assured me he found no breach of the ministerial code and no evidence of financial improprieties on your part.”
He praised her for making the “difficult decision” to resign nonetheless and said that “the door remains open for you” going forward.
Ms Siddiq has been an MP since 2015 and is probably best known for campaigning for the release of her constituent Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe, who was detained in Iran for six years.
Downing Street has announced that Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds has been appointed to replace her in the Treasury, and Torsten Bell will take Ms Reynolds’ previous role in the Department for Work and Pensions.
Ms Siddiq had the role of city minister, which meant she was responsible for illicit finance and corruption.
The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition had called for Ms Siddiq to resign earlier this week, accusing her of a “serious conflict of interests” regardless of whether Sir Laurie found she had breached the ministerial code.
In a post on X, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of “dither and delay to protect his close friend”, saying it became clear over the weekend that Ms Siddiq’s position “was completely untenable”.
Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat’s Cabinet Office spokesperson, said: “After years of Conservative sleaze and scandal, people rightly expected better from this government.”
What are the allegations facing Ms Siddiq?
It is alleged that Ms Siddiq lived in properties linked to allies of Ms Hasina.
She is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
She had been due to join a delegation heading to China last week, but stayed in the UK to fight to clear her name.
Further pressure mounted on the MP after Sky News discovered historic blog posts she wrote describing campaigning with her aunt in Bangladesh’s general election and celebrating her victory.
Ms Siddiq had previously said she and her aunt never spoke about politics.
The Times also reported that the MP’s Labour Party flyers and a thank you note to local Labour Party members after she was elected as an MP were found in the palace in Dhaka that belonged to her aunt.