'Couldn't obtain comprehensive comfort, identify evidence of improprieties': Sir Laurie on Tulip

Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards Sir Laurie Magnus said on Tuesday he has not been able to obtain comprehensive comfort in relation to all the UK property-related matters referred to in the media regarding former minister Tulip Siddiq.

Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards Sir Laurie spent eight days investigating the allegations after Siddiq referred herself to the standards watchdog.

In his letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday (14 January), Sir Laurie said, "A lack of records and lapse of time has meant that, unfortunately, I have not been able to obtain comprehensive comfort in relation to all the UK property-related matters referred to in the media.

"However, I have not identified evidence of improprieties connected with the actions taken by Ms Siddiq and/or her husband in relation to their ownership or occupation of the London properties that have been the subject of press attention," he added.

The letter comes after UK's City minister Tulip Siddiq resigned from the government following an ethics review into allegations around her use and receipt of properties linked to the ousted Bangladeshi regime.

In her resignation letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, she wrote that "continuing in my role as Economic Secretary to the Treasury is likely to be a distraction from the work of the government".

Posting a copy of the letter on X, formerly Twitter, she wrote,  "An independent review has confirmed that I have not breached the Ministerial Code and there is no evidence to suggest I have acted improperly. Nonetheless, to avoid distraction for the Government, I have resigned as City Minister."

In his letter, Sir Laurie said Siddiq "acknowledges that, over an extended period, she was unaware of the origins of her ownership of her flat in Kings Cross, despite having signed a Land Registry transfer form relating to the gift at the time".

He said the MP "remained under the impression that her parents had given the flat to her, having purchased it from the previous owner".

This had led to the public being "inadvertently misled" about the identity of the donor of the flat, added Sir Laurie.

Sir Laurie said this was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" which had led to Siddiq issuing a public correction of "the origins of her ownership after she became a minister".

"Similarly, I have found no suggestion of any unusual financial arrangements relating to Ms Siddiq's ownership or occupation of the properties in question involving the Awami League (or its affiliated organisations) or the state of Bangladesh.

"In addition, I have found no evidence to suggest that Ms Siddiq's and/or her husband's financial assets, as disclosed to me, derive from anything other than legitimate means."

Sir Laurie said Siddiq had "explained the context" of that visit as "solely for the social purpose of joining family and enjoying the tourist access to the city facilitated as a result of her aunt's official visit as head of state".

He said Siddiq had been clear that she had "no involvement in any inter-governmental discussions between Bangladesh and Russia or any form of official role".

"I accept this at face value," he said, "but should note that this visit may form part of investigations in Bangladesh."

Sir Laurie added that Siddiq was a "prominent member of one of the principal families involved in Bangladesh politics" which had "exposed her to allegations of misconduct by association".

"Given the nature of Ms Siddiq's ministerial responsibilities... 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," he said.