Tulip Siddiq resigns as Treasury minister

Published

8 months ago

January 14, 2025

admin

Tulip Siddiq has resigned as a Treasury minister after controversy over links to her aunt’s ousted political movement in Bangladesh.

In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, the Hampstead and Highgate MP said while she had “not breached the ministerial code”, continuing in her post would be “a distraction from the work of the government”.

Politics Live: Reaction to minister’s resignation

Ms Siddiq has been under pressure over allegations about properties linked to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed as Bangladesh’s prime minister in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership, and now faces a corruption probe.

She previously insisted she had “done nothing wrong” but referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog, Sir Laurie Magnus, last week.

In a letter to Sir Keir, the independent adviser called it “regrettable” Ms Siddiq “was not more alert to the potential reputational risks” arising from her close family’s association with Bangladesh.

He said this “shortcoming” should not be taken as a breach of the ministerial code, “but you will want to consider her ongoing responsibilities in the light of this”.

Sir Laurie reviewed Ms Siddiq’s financial affairs and the background of properties she owns or has occupied and said he found no evidence of any “improprieties” in her actions.

In his reply, Sir Keir said he has accepted Ms Siddiq’s resignation “with sadness”, adding: “I also wish to be clear that Sir Laurie Magnus as Independent Adviser has assured me he found no breach of the ministerial code and no evidence of financial improprieties on your part.”

He praised her for making the “difficult decision” to resign nonetheless and said “the door remains open for you” going forward.

Ms Siddiq has been an MP since 2015 and is probably best known for campaigning for the release of her constituent Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe, who was detained in Iran for six years.

Downing Street has announced Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds has been appointed to replace her in the Treasury, and Torsten Bell will take Ms Reynolds’ previous role in the Department for Work and Pensions.

Ms Siddiq had the role of city minister, which meant she was responsible for illicit finance and corruption.

The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition had called for Ms Siddiq to resign earlier this week, accusing her of a “serious conflict of interests” regardless of whether Sir Laurie found she had breached the ministerial code.

In a post on X, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of “dither and delay to protect his close friend”, saying it became clear over the weekend Ms Siddiq’s position “was completely untenable”.

Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat’s Cabinet Office spokesperson, said: “After years of Conservative sleaze and scandal, people rightly expected better from this government.”

What are the allegations facing Ms Siddiq?

It is alleged that Ms Siddiq lived in properties in London linked to allies of Ms Hasina, who is facing an investigation by an anti-corruption commission in Bangladesh.

This includes a £2.1m house in Finchley which the MP rents and which is owned by businessman Abdul Karim Nazim, an executive member of her aunt’s Awami League party’s UK branch.

In referring herself to Sir Laurie for investigation, Ms Siddiq said much of the reporting surrounding her financial affairs and links to Bangladesh had been inaccurate and “I am clear that I have done nothing wrong”.

Ms Siddiq has also been named in Bangladesh court documents as allegedly helping her aunt broker a 2013 deal with Russia for the Rooppur nuclear power plant, which she denies.

Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission has also alleged she was involved in the illegal allocation of plots of land in the diplomatic zone of a development near Dhaka to her mother, sister and brother.

A Labour source said she totally refutes the claims and had not been contacted by anyone on the matter.

Ms Siddiq had been due to join a delegation heading to China last week, but stayed in the UK to fight to clear her name.

But further pressure mounted after Sky News discovered historical blog posts she wrote describing campaigning with her aunt in Bangladesh’s general election and celebrating her victory.

Ms Siddiq had previously said she and her aunt never spoke about politics.

The Times also reported the MP’s Labour Party flyers and a thank you note to local Labour Party members after she was elected as an MP were found in the palace in Dhaka that belonged to her aunt.

UK

Duchess of York dropped as patron of two charities over Epstein email

Published

3 hours ago

September 22, 2025

admin

Duchess of York dropped as patron of two charities over Epstein email

Sarah, Duchess of York, has been dropped as a patron of two charities after it emerged she sent an email apologising to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for publicly disowning him.

The groups, children’s hospice Julia’s House and food allergy charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, issued statements on Monday.

Julia’s House said: “Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity.

“We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support.”

Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said: “We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York’s, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.

“Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years. She was a patron but, in the light of the recent revelations, we have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity. We would like to thank her for her kindness and support in the past.”

Julia’s House provides support for “families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition”, according to its website.

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation aims to prevent and end allergic disease, according to the Charity Commission, by bringing “about positive change by focusing on law and policies, medical research and educating and raising allergy awareness”.

It comes after it emerged the duchess had written a gushing message to Epstein, describing him as her “supreme friend”.

According to The Sun on Sunday, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew had emailed him in April 2011 and “humbly apologised” for linking him to paedophilia in the media a few weeks previously.

She said in the message that he was a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend” to her.

Her spokesperson has since said she only wrote the note because Epstein had threatened to sue her.

The duchess’s interview with the Evening Standard on 7 March 2011 saw her apologise for accepting £15,000 from Epstein.

She told the newspaper: “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite, I cannot say.

“Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”

But The Sun on Sunday reported that little over a month later, the duchess sent an email to the sex offender from her private account.

She apologised to him and said she was “bedridden with fear”, the paper reported.

‘Her first thoughts are with his victims’

In a statement at the weekend, the duchess’s spokesman said: “The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.

“Like many people, she was taken in by his lies.

“As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.

“She does not resile from anything she said then.

“This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”

UK

Police appeal to trace further 18 people linked to disorder at Unite the Kingdom march

Published

9 hours ago

September 22, 2025

admin

Police appeal to trace further 18 people linked to disorder at Unite the Kingdom march

Police have appealed for help to identify an additional 18 people suspected of public order offences and assaults on emergency workers on the day of the Unite the Kingdom march.

Between 110,000 and 150,000 people attended the rally in central London on 13 September, the Metropolitan Police estimates.

Protesters heard a number of speeches, including from far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who organised the rally and called it the “biggest freedom of speech” event in British history.

An anti-racism counter-protest, attended by about 5,000 campaigners, also took place, with the two groups clashing on Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, separated by lines of police.

Police previously said 24 people were arrested at the protests, 23 of whom are believed to have been involved in the Unite the Kingdom rally, while one was believed to be involved in the counter-protest.

The force launched an appeal to identify 11 people last week, one of whom was identified.

Officers now want to speak to a further 18 people “in connection with a range of public order offences and assaults on emergency workers” and have released 16 new images.

The Met previously said 26 officers were assaulted with kicks and punches, adding: “Bottles, flares and other projectiles were also thrown and concerted attempts were made to get past barriers.”

“Our post-event investigation continues and officers have looked through hundreds of hours of CCTV footage to review evidence to help with further inquiries,” said Detective Chief Inspector Natalie Norris.

“We have 28 people we want to speak to in connection with a range of offences – and we are again appealing for the public’s help to track them down.”

People may have travelled from outside London, so she said she was asking people “across the country” to look at a number of pictures that have been released and to get in touch if they recognise anyone.

UK

UK to push peace plan at UN summit after recognising Palestinian state – but Netanyahu says Palestine ‘will not happen’

Published

15 hours ago

September 22, 2025

admin

UK to push peace plan at UN summit after recognising Palestinian state - but Netanyahu says Palestine 'will not happen'

The UK is set to push for a peace plan for the Middle East at the UN General Assembly after recognising the state of Palestine.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to use the summit to address civilian suffering in war-torn Gaza and aim to strengthen “the international consensus on our pathway for peace in the Middle East”.

She will hold bilateral meetings to advance elements of the peace plan, including security measures to ensure Hamas has no role in the future governance of Gaza, according to the Foreign Office.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who won’t attend the summit, announced on Sunday that the UK recognises Palestine as an independent state, to “revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution”.

It is a significant moment in the history of Britain’s involvement in the region, and comes as the number of people killed during the Gaza conflict continues to rise and conditions for the people trapped become even more desperate.

Australia, Canada and Portugal made similar announcements, with France expected to follow suit at the UN on Monday.

The move was met with fierce backlash by Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying it was “absurd” and a “huge reward to terrorism”. He also vowed that a Palestinian state “will not happen”.

Separately, an Israeli official said the “full or partial annexation of the West Bank” is now “an option under consideration in response” to the move.

US President Donald Trump also addressed the coordinated recognition of the state of Palestine by the UK, Australia, Canada and Portugal, saying “I’m not in that camp” because recognising a Palestinian state was “rewarding Hamas”.

The families of hostages held in Gaza called it a “betrayal of humanity and a move that rewards Hamas while 48 hostages remain in captivity”.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the recognition of the state of Palestine would allow it to “live side by side with the State of Israel in security, peace, and good neighbourliness”.

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi reportedly celebrated the move as a victory for “the justice of our cause”.

But Sir Keir was clear to emphasise that recognition of Palestine was “not a reward for Hamas”, saying the terror group “can have no future, no role in government, no role in security” in a future state and confirming plans to ratchet up sanctions on Hamas “in the coming weeks”.

“Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision,” he added.

The prime minister also repeated his criticism of Israel, which for nearly two years has waged war on the densely populated Gaza Strip.

“The Israeli government’s relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable,” he said.

The number of people killed in Gaza since the IDF launched its offensive following the 7 October attacks has now risen above 65,000, according to Hamas-run health authorities.

“This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end,” Sir Keir said.

In recognising Palestine as a state, the UK does so based on 1967 borders to be finalised as part of future negotiations. It would be led by a “reformed Palestinian Authority”.

The UK also acknowledges “all legal rights and obligations of statehood” for Palestine.

An updated map on the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website now has the West Bank and Gaza labelled as ‘Palestine’ rather than the ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’. This change has been rolled out across the website.