Siddiq urged to step back from anti-corruption duties amid ethics investigation

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The coalition – a group of the UK’s leading anti-corruption organisations – said she has a “serious conflict of interests” regardless of whether Sir Laurie finds she has breached the Ministerial Code. In light of an investigation launched last week by the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial interests, and developments in separate investigations in Bangladesh, the coalition concludes that she currently has a serious conflict of interests The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition The minister was alleged to have been involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in which large sums of cash are said to have been embezzled. The coalition said: “In light of an investigation launched last week by the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial interests, and developments in separate investigations in Bangladesh, the coalition concludes that she currently has a serious conflict of interests. When we won the election six months ago, we boosted the powers of the independent adviser in the new Ministerial Code that was issued, to make sure that he had the power to initiate and carry out investigations into allegations like this Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden earlier said he had full confidence in Ms Siddiq and said she had acted properly by referring herself to Sir Laurie.