Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq has quit after becoming embroiled in a corruption investigation, No10 has announced.
The Labour frontbencher has faced calls to step down after authorities in Bangladesh opened a probe into her aunt, former PM Sheikh Hasina. In a letter to the Keir Starmer Ms Siddiq wrote that while there is “no evidence” of any wrongdoing, continuing in her role would be a “distraction”.
The Prime Minister has come under pressure to sack Ms Siddiq after Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission (ACC) filed a case against Ms Hasina and her wider family. Her resignation came just hours after Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis said he was “getting on with doing her job”.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Ms Siddiq wrote: “I want to assure you that I acted and have continued to act with full transparency and on the advice of officials on these matters.
“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 the Government”.
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Ms Siddiq, who denies wrongdoing, faces questions over reports she lived in properties in London linked to allies of her aunt. She voluntarily referred herself to the Government’s ethics advisor, Sir Laurie Magnus, who concluded that she had not breached the Ministerial Code. However Sir Laurie said it was “regrettable that she was not more alert to the potential reputational risks”.
Authorities in Bangladesh allege that Ms Hasina and her family embezzled billions of dollars from a nuclear power deal with Russia.
Ms Siddiq wrote: “As you know, 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, nor to suggest that any of my assets “derive from anything other than legitimate means.
“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. After extensive consultation with officials, I was advised to state in my declaration of interests that my aunt is the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and to recuse myself from matters relating to Bangladesh to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest.
“I want to assure you that I acted and have continued to act with full transparency and on the advice of officials on these matters.”
In a letter released by No10, Mr Starmer responded to the quitting minister: “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.”