Tulip Siddiq ‘unaware of origins’ of flat amid Bangladesh questions, probe says, as Labour minister quits: Live – UK Times

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.”

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.”

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.”

On Monday, it emerged that Labour Party posters and political flyers for Trulip Siddiq were found in the ruins of the ransacked official residence of the deposed Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is Ms Siddiq’s aunt.

The property, located in Dakha, Bangladesh, also contained Chanel and Swarovski bags, a certificate for a diamond and a $1,500 gold-trimmed Montblanc pen, The Times reported.

There had been growing calls for Sir Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch saying: “He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.

“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”

Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq has resigned from her post in Sir Keir Starmer’s government, after referring herself to the independent adviser on ministers’ interests.

Here is her resignation letter in full:

Tulip Siddiq has said that parliament’s standards watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus found that she did not breach the ministerial code, as she tendered her resignation as Sir Keir Starmer’s City minister.

In her resignation letter to the Prime Minister, in full below, Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq thanked Sir Keir Starmer 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.

“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.”

Tulip Siddiq has resigned as City minister after finding herself at the centre of a Bangladesh anti-corruption probe in relation to properties allegedly linked to her aunt’s former regime.

The Labour minister tendered her resignation to Keir Starmer saying her position had become a distraction.

She is the second minister to go in six months, after former transport secretary Louise Haigh.

The Treasury minister, who is responsible for tackling financial crime, is being investigated by standards watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus after reports that Ms Siddiq lived in properties in London linked to allies of the deposed prime minister.

Ms Siddiq referred herself to Sir Laurie on Monday last week. In a letter asking for an investigation to be opened, she maintained she had done nothing wrong.

Kate Devlin and Millie Cooke have more details in this breaking report:

Protesters could be heard shouting outside the gates of Downing Street as Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the prime minister of Iraq to No 10.

One could be heard to shout “are you gambling with our lives?” while others chanted.

Inside No 10, Sir Keir told his counterpart Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani it was a privilege to welcome him and that he hoped it would be the first of many visits.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has hit back after criticism of her claims that “peasants” from “sub-communities” in foreign countries were to blame for the grooming gangs crisis.

No 10 said the prime minister would not have used the same language, while Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer accused the Tory leader of Islamophobia.

But Ms Badenoch wrote on X: “Interesting to see the Prime Minister’s spokesman weighing in to defend the groomers and rapists against tough language. If some of these people had spent less time worrying about causing offence and more time focused on protecting the vulnerable we’d be in a better place.”

Sir Keir Starmer was praised in a crossparty home affairs committee report in 2013 for his work as director of public prosecutions to improve the processes for bringing such cases to justice.

The report said: “Mr Starmer has striven to improve the treatment of victims of sexual assault within the criminal justice system throughout his term as Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).”