Tulip Siddiq, Labour Party MP and niece of Bangladesh former leader Sheikh Hasina, quit her job as Economic Secretary to the Treasury on Tuesday. This resignation followed speculations that her family ties and previous corruption charges could divert the focus from the work of the British government.
Siddiq, who was responsible for cleaning up corruption in the UK’s financial markets, had referred herself to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests over allegations concerning her use of properties in London. Despite an investigation that revealed no breach of the Ministerial Code or financial improprieties, Siddiq opted to resign to prevent further disturbance of the government’s agenda.
In her resignation letter, Siddiq said that she had acted transparently and in line with the advice from UK officials. “I have not acted improperly,” she assured but added that if she remained the Treasury Minister it would overshadow the work of the government. Starmer accepted her resignation “with sadness” for her contribution especially in the roll-out of Banking Hubs and financial inclusion.
Recent reports raised questions over whether Siddiq’s use of two properties in London one reportedly linked to her sister, Azmina was proper as well as an address of another businessman connected with Bangladesh’s Awami League. Siddiq claims she has never done anything improper and distanced herself from some allegations involving members of her family, which came up in Bangladesh over fraud surrounding plots of land in Dhaka.
The resignation was prompted by pressure from opposition figures, including Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who criticized the delay by Starmer in making a statement. Siddiq’s resignation notwithstanding, there was no indication of misconduct or breaches in the Ministerial Code, according to Starmer.
