Treasury chief says he would welcome Tulip Siddiq’s return as minister

The chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, has said he would be “very happy” if Tulip Siddiq returned as a minister despite criticisms of her by the government’s adviser on ministerial standards over her family ties to the ousted regime in Bangladesh.

On Tuesday, Siddiq resigned as minister for the City and anti-corruption after accepting that allegations of corruption linked to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh, had become a distraction.

An investigation by the standards adviser, Laurie Magnus, found Siddiq had not breached the ministerial code in her use of properties given to her and family by allies of Hasina’s regime.

He did say, however, that Siddiq should have been more alert to the potential reputational risks arising from her family’s close ties with Bangladesh after finding incomplete records on her UK properties. Siddiq resigned after Magnus suggested the prime minister would want to consider her responsibilities.

Keir Starmer accepted her resignation, but in a letter to her he said the “door remains open for you going forward”.

Speaking to Sky News, Jones said Siddiq’s future was a matter for the prime minister, but added: “Tulip did a great job as City minister. She hasn’t broken any rules. The prime minister was clear in his letter to Tulip that he would like to see a circumstance in which she can come back into government in the future.

“The prime minister appoints and sacks ministers. I’d be very happy to work with Tulip in the future if that opportunity came up. But she stood down, and that was her decision.”

He said: “[Magnus] was very clear in his letter that she had not breached the ministerial code. There was no improper behaviour on Tulip Siddiq’s part, part but because of what’s been happening to her extended family in Bangladesh, as he recognised and as Tulip recognised, that has become a distraction for the government, and that’s why she stood down.”

Siddiq said she “totally refutes” allegations of corruption linked to her aunt’s regime.

After news of her resignation, Muhammad Yunus, who is leading Bangladesh’s interim government, reiterated his determination to investigate properties and other assets tied to stolen Bangladeshi funds.

A statement issued by his office said: “We remain committed to accountability and justice and will be working with partners around the world to return the stolen funds to the people of Bangladesh.

“We hope and expect all friendly governments, including the UK, to stand with the people of Bangladesh in seeking justice for these crimes. Corruption hurts everyone other than those who perpetrate it – and some of their favoured relatives and cronies

“The theft of billions of dollars in public funds has left Bangladesh with a significant financial deficit. The funds stolen from Bangladesh belong to its people. We will continue to work with our international partners to ensure that justice is done.”