UK govt considering candidates to replace Tulip: Sunday Times
Labour sources say Tulip’s referral suggests she was ‘on the way out’
Senior allies of UK Prime Minister Sir 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 Sunday Times.
The newspaper quoted officials who said they had identified candidates to succeed the treasury minister over the weekend before the public announcement that Tulip had referred herself to the prime minister's ethics watchdog, which was made on Monday.
Starmer has said he has full confidence in Tulip, and a UK PM's spokesman said it was "completely untrue" to suggest the party had drawn up a shortlist. But The Times has been told some of those close to the prime minister are at least informally considering who could succeed her.
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Tulip referred herself to 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.
Financial crime officials at Bangladesh's central bank have demanded bank account details for Tulip 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 are the two ministerial aides to Rachel Reeves, Alistair Strathern and Imogen Walker.
Others who could be considered for the role include Callum Anderson, a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in the science and technology department, as well as Kanishka Narayan and Josh Simons, PPSs in the environment department, 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.
One Labour source said Tulip's referral "suggests that she's willing to fall on her sword" and that she was "on the way out".
Tulip 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.
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, Tulip 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.
