Tulip Siddiq resigns as City minister
Tulip Siddiq has resigned as City minister, Downing Street has confirmed, amid allegations over her links to the former government in Bangladesh.
The Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate wrote to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to say that while she had “not breached the ministerial code” continuing in her role as a Treasury minister would be “a distraction”.
Her decision to quit the government came just hours after it emerged that authorities in Bangladesh have filed a criminal case against Siddiq, accusing her of misusing her position as an MP to gain influence and illegally acquire land.
She yesterday lost the support of the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition (UKACC), a group of leading transparency campaigners, who warned she had a “serious conflict of interest” over her links to the controversial Awami League party, and called for her to relinquish her anti-corruption brief.
Siddiq had come under increasing pressure in recent weeks after allegations emerged about properties linked to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh who was ousted this summer and faces an arrest warrant over alleged crimes against humanity.
She had previously said she had “done nothing wrong” and had referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial interests last week.
Sir Laurie also wrote to the Prime Minister with his findings, stating that it was “regrettable” Siddiq “was not more alert to the potential reputational risks – both to her and the government”.
He said he would not consider it to be “a breach of the ministerial code” but added that Sir Keir “will want to consider her ongoing responsibilities in the light of this”.
In her letter to Starmer, whose constituency neighbours hers in north London, Siddiq said: “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.
“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.”
She said she would “continue to support” Sir Keir’s government “in any way I can from the backbenches”.
In response, Starmer said he accepted her resignation “with sadness”. He stressed Sir Laurie “has assured me he found no breach of the ministerial code and no evidence of financial improprieties on your part” and thanked her “for your full co-operation with the establishment of facts”.
But he added that he wanted “to be clear that the door remains open for you going forward”.
Siddiq has been replaced as economic secretary to the Treasury by Emma Reynolds, who served as Managing Director of TheCityUK, the financial services lobby group, prior to last summer’s election.
Torsten Bell has also been appointed a parliamentary secretary in the Treasury.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch 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. Weak leadership from a weak Prime Minister.”
And Liberal Democrat cabinet office spokesperson Sarah Olney added: “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.”
A spokesperson for Reform UK commented: “Keir Starmer’s anti-corruption minister has had to resign due to being investigated for… corruption.
“Labour are just as bad as the Tories. Britain needs Reform.”