Labour's Anti-Corruption Minister Tulip Siddiq is under investigation over her use of properties linked to her aunt, the deposed Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed.
Speaking to reporters today as he unveiled a new "relationship between the NHS and the private healthcare sector", Starmer said Siddiq had referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards.
The PM said Siddiq "has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she's now done, and that's why we brought in being the new code".
He added: "It's to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts - and yes, I've got confidence in her, and that's the process that will now be happening."
In her letter to ministerial standards watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus, Tulip Siddiq wrote: "In recent weeks I have been the subject of media reporting, much of it inaccurate, about my financial affairs and my family's links to the former government of Bangladesh.
"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."
She had also been due to travel to China with Rachel Reeves this week - but will now remain in Britain to "assist the independent adviser on ministerial standards", a source said.
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Siddiq has owned, rented and lived in several properties in London with links to the Awami League, her aunt's political party, according to various reports from the Financial Times and The Sunday Times.
These include:
Back in late December, Siddiq faced Bangladeshi allegations of helping to illegally siphon off £5.2billion which had been ring-fenced for infrastructure projects in the south Asian state.
Bangladesh's anti-corruption commission is said to have told local news outlets on December 17 that it had opened an investigation into the allegations - but Labour sources cast them down, despite the risk of a diplomatic row if authorities follow through.
The Telegraph reported that Labour Party insiders labelled the allegations "spurious claims" and said Siddiq had not been contacted by Bangladeshi authorities over the matter.
Find Out More...
Speaking to reporters today as he unveiled a new "relationship between the NHS and the private healthcare sector", Starmer said Siddiq had referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards.
The PM said Siddiq "has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she's now done, and that's why we brought in being the new code".
He added: "It's to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts - and yes, I've got confidence in her, and that's the process that will now be happening."
In her letter to ministerial standards watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus, Tulip Siddiq wrote: "In recent weeks I have been the subject of media reporting, much of it inaccurate, about my financial affairs and my family's links to the former government of Bangladesh.
"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."
She had also been due to travel to China with Rachel Reeves this week - but will now remain in Britain to "assist the independent adviser on ministerial standards", a source said.
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Siddiq has owned, rented and lived in several properties in London with links to the Awami League, her aunt's political party, according to various reports from the Financial Times and The Sunday Times.
These include:
- A two-bedroom flat near King's Cross Station. Siddiq owns the flat, but it was purchased by Awami League-linked developer Abdul Motalif.
- A property in Hampstead, which was transferred to her sister by Moin Ghani, a lawyer who represented the Awami League-led Bangladeshi government. Siddiq had lived at this property.
- A £2.1million-valued home in East Finchley owned by Abdul Karim, a senior member of the Awami League's UK wing. Siddiq rents this home, having moved in shortly after July 2022.
Back in late December, Siddiq faced Bangladeshi allegations of helping to illegally siphon off £5.2billion which had been ring-fenced for infrastructure projects in the south Asian state.
Bangladesh's anti-corruption commission is said to have told local news outlets on December 17 that it had opened an investigation into the allegations - but Labour sources cast them down, despite the risk of a diplomatic row if authorities follow through.
The Telegraph reported that Labour Party insiders labelled the allegations "spurious claims" and said Siddiq had not been contacted by Bangladeshi authorities over the matter.
Find Out More...