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Tulip Siddiq has resigned as a Treasury minister amid a Bangladesh anti-corruption probe in relation to properties allegedly linked to her aunt’s former regime.
The minister, who is responsible for tackling financial crime, was investigated by standards watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus after reports that she was embroiled in a probe in Bangladesh, where her aunt Sheikh Hasina led an increasingly autocratic regime for 15 years until its shock fall in August.
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday, the watchdog said he had “not identified evidence of improprieties”, but that it was “regrettable” Ms Siddiq “was not more alert to the potential reputational risks” of her close family’s association with Bangladesh.
While not a breach of the ministerial code, Sir Laurie advised the PM that he “consider her ongoing responsibilities”, and highlighted that Ms Siddiq “was unaware of the origins of her ownership of her flat in Kings Cross, despite having signed a Land Registry transfer form, relating to the gift at the time”.
Her resignation – the second to hit Sir Keir’s government in six months, after Louise Haigh stepped down as transport secretary – came as chancellor Rachel Reeves faced a grilling over her trip to China at a time of economic turmoil, in what the Tories labelled “a crisis made in Downing Street”.
‘Millions’ in taxpayer money paid to cyber criminals in recent years – minister
Tom Watling14 January 2025 21:02
Reeves denies economic turbulence is a ‘crisis made in Downing Street’
Tom Watling14 January 2025 20:04
Mauritius PM orders special cabinet meeting as Starmer rushes to sign Chagos deal
A race appears to be on to have a deal signed before Monday when Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.
The president-elect has made it clear that he does not agree with the Biden administration over the handover of the British Indian Ocean colony and would seek to block or veto it once he is in office.
Reports from Mauritius suggest that the deal “is almost done”, although one senior government source there told The Independent that he was “startled” by suggestions it was to be signed in the next few days.
However, another source in the Mauritian government told The Daily Telegraph: “We intend to agree before January 20.”
David Maddox and Millie Cooke have the full report:
Tom Watling14 January 2025 19:01
Starmer says ‘door remains open’ for Tulip Siddiq
Sir Keir Starmer said the “door remains open” for Tulip Siddiq in his letter accepting her resignation as Treasury minister.
The prime minister said: “Thank you for your letter. It is with sadness I accept your resignation from your ministerial role.
“I want to thank you for your commitment during your time as Economic Secretary to the Treasury including spearheading the rollout of banking hubs and opening our 100th site, leading our thinking on financial inclusion, and contributing to the success of the Chancellor’s first Mansion House speech.
“In accepting your resignation, 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. 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.”
Andy Gregory14 January 2025 18:21
Badenoch accuses Starmer of ‘dither and delay’ after Siddiq resignation
Sir Keir Starmer “dithered and delayed to protect” former economic secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader wrote in a post on 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.”
Andy Gregory14 January 2025 17:55
Badenoch slams Starmer over ‘delayed’ sacking of Siddiq
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “dithered and delayed to protect” former economic secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq, who has resigned, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “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.”
Tom Watling14 January 2025 17:42
Starmer makes two new ministerial appointments as Tulip Siddiq resigns
Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Emma Reynolds as economic secretary to the Treasury, after Tulip Siddiq resigned the position.
Reynolds, aged 47, currently represents the Wycombe constituency in southern England, and previously served as a politician for a different seat in central England between 2010 and 2019.
Former Resolution Foundation think-tank boss Torsten Bell has also been appointed as a parliamentary secretary in the Treasury.
Andy Gregory14 January 2025 17:29
Lib Dems say voters ‘expected better’ from a Labour government
Voters “expected better” from a Labour government, the Liberal Democrats’ Cabinet Office spokesperson said in reaction to Tulip Siddiq’s resignation.
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.”
Andy Gregory14 January 2025 17:12
‘Regrettable’ Tulip Siddiq was ‘not more alert to potential reputational risks’, watchdog says
It was “regrettable” that Tulip Siddiq “was not more alert to the potential reputational risks” of her close family’s association with Bangladesh, the independent adviser on ministerial standards has said.
Sir Laurie Magnus wrote in his letter to the prime minister: “Given the nature of Ms Siddiq’s ministerial responsibilities, which include the promotion of the UK financial services sector and the inherent probity of its regulatory framework as a core component of the UK economy and its growth, it is regrettable that she was not more alert to the potential reputational risks – both to her and the government – arising from her close family’s association with Bangladesh.
“I would not advise that this shortcoming should 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 said her association with “one of the principal families involved in Bangladesh politics” had “exposed her to allegations of misconduct by association”.
He said the former Treasury minister “was unaware of the origins of her ownership of her flat in Kings Cross, despite having signed a Land Registry transfer form, relating to the gift at the time,” adding: “Ms Siddiq remained under the impression that her parents had given the flat to her, having purchased it from the previous owner.”
Turning to a visit to Moscow, Russia, in 2013, including her attendance at the signing ceremony for a nuclear power plant, Sir Laurie said: “Ms Siddiq is clear that she had no involvement in any inter-governmental discussions between Bangladesh and Russia or any form of official role. I accept this at face value, but should note that this visit may form part of investigations in Bangladesh.”
Andy Gregory14 January 2025 16:51
Watchdog investigating Tulip Siddiq ‘finds no evidence of improprieties’
Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial standards, has “not identified evidence of improprieties” connected with Tulip Siddiq.
In a letter to the prime minister, Sir Laurie said: “A lack of records and lapse of time has meant that, unfortunately, I have not been able to obtain comprehensive comfort in relation to all the UK property-related matters referred to in the media.
“However, I have not identified evidence of improprieties connected with the actions taken by Ms Siddiq and/or her husband in relation to their ownership or occupation of the London properties that have been the subject of press attention.
“Similarly, I have found no suggestion of any unusual financial arrangements relating to Ms Siddiq’s ownership or occupation of the properties in question involving the Awami League (or its affiliated organisations) or the state of Bangladesh.
“In addition, I have found no evidence to suggest that Ms Siddiq’s and/or her husband’s financial assets, as disclosed to me, derive from anything other than legitimate means.”
Andy Gregory14 January 2025 16:50
