Tulip Siddiq has resigned as a Treasury minister after controversy over hyperlinks to her aunt’s ousted political motion in Bangladesh.
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, the Hampstead and Highgate MP stated that whereas she had “not breached the ministerial code”, it’s clear that persevering with in her publish can be “a distraction from the work of the government”.
Politics Stay: Response to minister’s resignation
Ms Siddiq has been underneath strain over allegations about properties linked to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed as Bangladesh’s prime minister in August following an rebellion towards her 20-year management.
She beforehand insisted she had “done nothing wrong” however referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog, Sir Laurie Magnus, final week.
In a letter to Sir Keir, the impartial adviser known as it “regrettable” that Ms Siddiq “was not more alert to the potential reputational risks” arising from her shut household’s affiliation with Bangladesh.
He stated this “shortcoming” shouldn’t 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 monetary affairs and the background of properties she owns or has occupied and stated he discovered no proof of any “improprieties” in her actions.
Picture:
Tulip Siddiq (far left) together with her aunt, Sheikh Hasina (third left), and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013. Pic: AP
In his reply, Sir Keir stated he has accepted Ms Siddiq’s resignation “with sadness”, including: “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 stated that “the door remains open for you” going ahead.
Ms Siddiq has been an MP since 2015 and might be finest identified for campaigning for the discharge of her constituent Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe, who was detained in Iran for six years.
Downing Road has introduced that Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds has been appointed to exchange her within the Treasury, and Torsten Bell will take Ms Reynolds’ earlier position within the Division for Work and Pensions.
Ms Siddiq had the position of metropolis minister, which meant she was accountable for illicit finance and corruption.
The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition had known as for Ms Siddiq to resign earlier this week, accusing her of a “serious conflict of interests” no matter whether or not Sir Laurie discovered she had breached the ministerial code.
In a publish on X, Tory chief Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of “dither and delay to protect his close friend”, saying it turned clear over the weekend that Ms Siddiq’s place “was completely untenable”.
Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat’s Cupboard Workplace spokesperson, stated: “After years of Conservative sleaze and scandal, people rightly expected better from this government.”
What are the allegations going through Ms Siddiq?
It’s alleged that Ms Siddiq lived in properties linked to allies of Ms Hasina.
She can be named together with her aunt in Bangladesh court docket paperwork about conferences with the Russian authorities.
She had been resulting from be part of a delegation heading to China final week, however stayed within the UK to combat to clear her identify.
Ms Siddiq had beforehand stated she and her aunt by no means spoke about politics.
The Instances additionally reported that the MP’s Labour Occasion flyers and a thanks observe to native Labour Occasion members after she was elected as an MP have been discovered within the palace in Dhaka that belonged to her aunt.
