Pressure is mounting on Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq after the leader of Bangladesh called for an investigation into properties she appears to have lived in rent-free which were gifted to her by the ousted regime.
In an interview with the Sunday Times Muhammad Yunus said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated and handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery.”
He also called for Tulip Siddiq to apologise publicly for the allegations surrounding these properties.
He highlighted the irony of Siddiq being the Anti-Corruption Minister while defending herself against allegations related to property ownership, suggesting that she should acknowledge her unawareness at the time and seek forgiveness from the public if she were to resign.
Yunus emphasised that any properties acquired through corruption should be returned to the people of Bangladesh, underlining that these assets belong to the common people, not just the elite.
in recent weeks, critics and political opponents have pointed to the wealth of Siddiq’s family, particularly focusing on how her aunts, Sheikh Rehana and Sheikh Hasina, have managed to amass significant assets in London. There’s an implication that this wealth might be linked to corruption in Bangladesh.
The core of the allegations centres around properties in London’s upmarket areas like Regent’s Park and Kensington. These properties are alleged to have been bought with funds that could be traced back to corruption in Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s government.
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Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s sister, owns a flat in Regent’s Park, which has been highlighted as potentially acquired through questionable means. There are similar allegations regarding a property in Kensington, linked to the Siddiq family.
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Meanwhile, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury Minister Siddiq over the allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq. He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption. Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong.” She has largely defended herself by stating that she was not involved in the acquisition of these properties and often wasn’t aware of the financial dealings of her extended family.
She referred herself to the Prime Minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the Prime Minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“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.”
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
