Tulip Siddiq, Britain's Economic Secretary to the Treasury, announced her resignation on Tuesday, citing the growing controversy surrounding her family ties to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Siddiq stated that the issue had become "a distraction from the work of the government."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed regret over her decision to step down, affirming that an inquiry by the UK’s ethics adviser, Laurie Magnus, had found no breach of the Ministerial Code or evidence of financial misconduct by Siddiq. However, the controversy surrounding her connection to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, had intensified in recent weeks.
Sheikh Hasina, who led Bangladesh’s Awami League, was removed from office last year following weeks of protests and allegations of corruption. Siddiq faced scrutiny over claims she had benefited from London properties linked to Awami League associates and an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh that implicated her family in a questionable 2013 nuclear power deal with Russia.
Although Magnus concluded that Siddiq did not violate ministerial standards, he noted that she could have exercised greater caution about the reputational risks posed by her familial connections. Siddiq, who was responsible for tackling financial corruption, acknowledged the distractions caused by these allegations and emphasized her commitment to transparency in her resignation statement.
The resignation marks a significant moment for the Starmer government, raising questions about the balance between personal affiliations and public office accountability.
