Under-fire Tulip Siddiq QUITS as anti-corruption minister over Bangladeshi regime links – but denies ‘acting improperly’
TULIP Siddiq has resigned as anti-corruption minister over her links to the previous despotic Bangladesh regime.
The Treasury Minister was forced to quit just over a week after referring herself to the sleaze watchdog for investigation.
Ms Siddiq had denied all the allegations against her but it was claimed she benefited financially from three London properties linked to her aunt – the former PM of Bangladesh.
Her aunt is the country’s former leader Sheikh Hasina who fled into exile after being deposed last year.
It comes as Rachel Reeves has been blasted for laughing in Parliament.
The Chancellor was forced to break cover after jetting off to China while Britain’s economy took a battering.
Ms Reeves was quizzed in the Commons by Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride who accused her of “scampering halfway around the world with a begging bowl” while markets spiralled.
LETTER TO PM
In a letter to her close pal Sir Keir Starmer, Ms Siddiq said that staying would be a “distraction from the work of the Government”.
The government’s ethics watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus was looking into the case on behalf of the Prime Minister.
Ms Siddiq thanked the PM in her resignation letter for the “confidence” he has shown her but said her continuing in post “is likely to be a distraction”.
She said: “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.
Starmer has spent precious political capital on row
By JACK ELSOM, Chief Political Correspondent
FOR days it has been clear how the scandal engulfing Tulip Siddiq would end – we’ve all seen this movie before.
The drip-drip of revelations involving her links to the former despotic Bangladeshi regime – led by her own aunt – were constant.
And it was an added farce that the minister responsible for tackling corruption was herself dragged into a corruption saga.
Despite trying to make the episode go away by launching an investigation, the Westminster convention was that she was toast.
It is a fact Ms Siddiq has now accepted, admitting she was becoming a “distraction” to the Prime Minister.
But the whole row does raise questions about Sir Keir Starmer’s judgement. Did he fail to act sooner because he was keen to protect a close friend?
Think of the ruthlessness and speed at which he dispatched Louise Haigh from Government, and compare that to how he faced the media insisting Ms Siddiq had done nothing wrong.
It has expended precious political capital that Sir Keir is currently lacking.
“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.
“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 Government.
“My loyalty is and always will be to this Labour Government and the programme of national renewal and transformation it has embarked upon.
“I have therefore decided to resign from my ministerial position.”
But Sir Keir said the “door remains open” for Tulip Siddiq in his letter accepting her resignation.
The PM said: ” It is with sadness I accept your resignation from your ministerial role.”
He also made clear that he was assured that Sir Laurie found “no breach of the Ministerial Code and no evidence of financial improprieties on your part”.
Kemi Badenoch had called on Ms Siddiq to resign or be sacked last week.
Following the resignation, she said: “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.”
In a stinging sign off, she said: “Weak leadership from a weak Prime Minister.”
The Treasury Minister is under growing scrutiny over links to London properties tied to her aunt, who was forced from power last year amid corruption claims.
Ms Siddiq referred herself to the ministerial standards watchdog but insists she has done nothing wrong.
She has also been separately named in a Bangladesh corruption probe over claims she benefited from a Russian-backed nuclear deal.
She had been due to travel to China last week with Chancellor Rachel Reeves but pulled out of the trip at the last minute.