Starmer faces Labour backlash over ‘judgment’ in making close friend Tulip Siddiq anti-corruption minister – after she was forced to quit over Bangladesh links_Nhy
Keir Starmer is facing a backlash over his judgment in making his close friend Tulip Siddiq anti-corruption minister – after she was forced to quit.
The Treasury minister announced her resignation to avoid being a ‘distraction’ to the government after a sleaze probe said her behaviour was ‘regrettable’.
Sir Keir’s independent adviser Sir Laurie Magnus concluded there was no evidence of ‘improprieties’ or that the ministerial code had been broken.
But he suggested Ms Siddiq should have been more alert to the risks of her family ties to the deposed former PM of Bangladesh.
He also revealed that Ms Siddiq had been unable to produce conclusive evidence that the tax and funding arrangements for the houses she used that were connected to Sheikh Hasina were ‘in order’.
Despite Sir Laurie’s findings, the PM told her that the ‘door remains open’ for a comeback to government.
In a letter to Keir Starmer, Tulip Siddiq stressed that the independent adviser had found she did not breach the ministerial code
Ms Siddiq and Sir Keir, whose constituencies neighbour each other, at the election count in 2015
Ms Siddiq acknowledged that continuing as a Treasury minister would be a ‘distraction from the work of the Government’
In her resignation letter, Ms Siddiq stressed she did not act ‘improperly’ and had provided ‘full details of her relationships and private interests’ to the Government.
But she acknowledged that staying as a Treasury minister would be a ‘distraction from the work of the Government’
Sir Keir is facing questions about his judgment in appointing Ms Siddiq, including from his own side.
‘It was an own goal,’ one Labour MP told the Guardian.
‘Everybody knew she was a member of Bangladesh’s political dynasty with links to huge power and money.
‘Who on earth thought it was a good idea drawing attention to all that by giving her that job?’
But touring broadcast studios this morning, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told Times Radio it showed that the ministerial standards watchdog ‘process is working’.
‘I don’t think there’s a question about the Prime Minister’s judgment,’ he said.
‘The independent process has been followed. It concluded, and Tulip took the decision to step down from Government.’
He said the developments showed that ‘the process is working’.
The day before her departure, No 10 voiced ‘full confidence’ in Ms Siddiq in spite of several weeks of damaging headlines.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the PM of ‘weak’ leadership and questioned whether he had delayed the process due to his friendship with the minister.
She 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…
‘Weak leadership from a weak Prime Minister.’
Ms Siddiq (left) with her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, (centre) and Vladimir Putin (right) in 2013
Sheikh Hasina was deposed as Bangladesh’s prime minister in August amid allegations of corruption and brutality.
Ms Siddiq and members of her family are under investigation by an anti-corruption commission set up by the new government in Dhaka.
She was alleged to have been involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in which billions are said to have been embezzled.
She has also been named in a second investigation into the illegal allocation of land to members of her family during her time as an MP.
Ms Siddiq referred herself to Sir Laurie last week following mounting questions about her use of properties connected to her aunt. In her resignation letter, she cited the row over her connections as a ‘distraction’ to the Government.
