Fresh Blow For Keir Starmer As Tulip Siddiq Quits As Anti-Corruption Minister

Tulip Siddiq has resigned as the government’s anti-corruption minister.

In a fresh blow for Keir Starmer, she said she did not want to be a “distraction from the work of the government”.

She was alleged to have been involved in brokering a deal in 2013 with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.

Siddiq’s aunt, Sheikh Hasina, was until recently prime minister of Bangladesh for more than 20 years.

She is facing a wider investigation by an anti-corruption commission in the south Asian country after being deposed.

The minister’s resignation comes barely a month after transport secretary Louise Haigh also quit.

Siddiq quit following an investigation by Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial standards.

In his letter to the PM, he said: “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.”

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