Sir Keir Starmer to face tough questions
Sir Keir Starmer is set to face a Commons grilling today following the resignation of Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq amidst a corruption scandal tied to her family. The Labour leader will go head-to-head with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions, with accusations of “dithering and delaying” already flying.
Tulip Siddiq resigns
Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq made a dramatic exit yesterday after an ethics investigation found she had "inadvertently misled" the public about a property gifted by an associate of her aunt, Bangladesh's former prime minister. The standards watchdog was brought in after questions arose regarding the ownership of the property.
Investigation reveals discrepancies
Ethics boss Sir Laurie Magnus highlighted that Ms Siddiq could not provide conclusive documentation confirming proper regulations were followed regarding properties gifted to her and her sister. He also noted discrepancies related to a flat in King’s Cross and a 2013 Moscow visit linked to a potential embezzlement investigation.
Political backlash
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Sir Keir for hesitating to take action against Ms Siddiq, questioning his loyalty over the matter. Despite defending Ms Siddiq initially, the PM eventually accepted her resignation "with sadness" after the findings of the investigation.
Government's response
Treasury Minister Darren Jones defended the handling of the investigation, citing it as evidence of an effective independent process for assessing ministerial standards. He expressed willingness to see Ms Siddiq return to the Government, emphasizing there was no indication of improper conduct on her part.
