The United Kingdom Treasury minister,Tulip Siddiq, has resigned amid growing pressure over an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh.
Siddiq had referred herself to the prime minister’s standards adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, following concerns about her connections to her aunt, the ousted Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
While Sir Laurie did not uncover any evidence of misconduct, he noted that it was “regrettable” that Siddiq had not been more cautious about the reputational risks linked to her familial ties.
Siddiq, however, maintained that she had done nothing wrong and stated that remaining in her role would be “a distraction” for the government.
Her resignation followed the announcement of a second investigation in Bangladesh.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for “dithering and delaying to protect” Siddiq.
Badenoch wrote on X, “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.”
In a letter accepting Siddiq’s resignation, Sir Keir Starmer expressed that the “door remains open” for her, despite the resignation.
Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, had been involved in the UK government’s efforts to combat corruption in financial markets.
She came under scrutiny last month following allegations that her family had embezzled up to £3.9bn from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh.
Siddiq’s aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the head of the Awami League party, was deposed last year and fled into exile.
Siddiq also faced criticism for her use of properties in London that were allegedly connected to her aunt’s allies.
One such property, a flat in King’s Cross, had reportedly been given to Siddiq by an individual tied to the former Bangladeshi government, although Siddiq previously denied this, claiming her parents had bought the property for her.
Sir Laurie Magnus spent eight days investigating these claims and acknowledged that Siddiq had misunderstood the origins of the flat’s ownership.
He said Siddiq had remained under the impression that her parents had purchased the flat for her.
He added that this misunderstanding had led to her issuing a public correction once she became a minister.
Sir Laurie also confirmed that he found no evidence of financial improprieties related to Siddiq or her husband’s ownership of the properties in question.
Despite the absence of evidence of wrongdoing, he mentioned that Siddiq’s position as a prominent member of a political family in Bangladesh exposed her to accusations of misconduct by association.
A separate investigation in Bangladesh has accused Siddiq of helping her aunt broker a deal with Russia in 2013, which allegedly over-inflated the price of a new nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.
Siddiq attended the signing ceremony and was photographed with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Siddiq clarified that her visit was purely social, related to a family event, and had no involvement in official government discussions.
Sir Laurie accepted this explanation, although he noted that the visit could still be part of ongoing investigations in Bangladesh.
In a letter to Siddiq, Sir Keir Starmer expressed his sadness at her resignation and thanked her for her commitment as a minister, noting that Sir Laurie had found no breach of the ministerial code or evidence of financial improprieties.
The newly appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds, will succeed Siddiq in the role. Reynolds, who first became an MP in 2010, returned to parliament in 2024 after a period working as managing director at a financial lobbying firm.
Additionally, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a “First Information Report” alleging that Siddiq assisted her mother, Rehana Siddique, in influencing Hasina to misuse her power for a property deal in Dhaka.
Siddiq’s spokesperson denied the allegations, stating that no evidence had been presented and that Siddiq had not been contacted regarding the matter.
