UK PM’s allies mulling options to replace Tulip Siddiq: report

Senior allies of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are considering candidates to replace Tulip Siddiq if she is forced to quit over links to her aunt’s ousted Bangladeshi regime, reports the Times.

Officials reportedly identified candidates to succeed the Treasury minister over the weekend, before the public announcement made on Monday that Siddiq had referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog, it adds.

Starmer has said he has full confidence in Siddiq, and a No 10 spokesman said it was “completely untrue” to suggest the party had drawn up a shortlist.

The Times has been told some of those close to the prime minister are at least informally considering who could succeed her.

Siddiq referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests, amid questions about her use of several properties linked to the government of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as Bangladesh’s prime minister following widespread protests in August, last year.

Financial-crime officials at Bangladesh’s central bank have demanded bank-account details for Siddiq and seven of her family members, and the country’s anti-corruption commission is investigating whether she helped embezzle billions of pounds in a deal for a Russian-funded nuclear-power plant.

Among the candidates who may be considered by No 10 are the two ministerial aides to Rachel Reeves, Alistair Strathern and Imogen Walker, reports The Times.

Others who could be considered for the role include Callum Anderson, a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the technology secretary, as well as Kanishka Narayan, PPS to the environment secretary, Josh Simons, PPS to the justice secretary, and Rachel Blake, whose constituency covers the City.

Lucy Rigby, the attorney general, and Torsten Bell, an economist who is also a ministerial aide, may also be considered strong options.

Quoting a Labour source the report said Siddiq’s referral “suggests that she’s willing to fall on her sword” and that she was “on the way out”.

Siddiq has come under increasing pressure after it was revealed she was given a £700,000 London flat by a supporter of her aunt’s Awami League party and her sister received a £650,000 property from one of Hasina’s advisers, according to the report.

A spokesman for the minister has said it was “categorically wrong” to suggest the properties were linked to her support for the Awami League.

In her referral to Magnus, Siddiq said: “I am clear that I have done nothing wrong. However, for the avoidance of doubt, I would like you to independently establish the facts about these matters. I will obviously ensure you have all the information you need to do this.”