Tories name on Keir Starmer to ‘get a grip’ and SACK anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq as she’s rebuked by Bangladeshi chief over property row

Sir Keir Starmer was today urged to ‘get a grip’ and sack his Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq amid fresh scrutiny of her property interests.

The Hampstead and Highgate MP is currently being probed by a watchdog about her use of homes linked to her aunt, the recently-deposed Bangladeshi prime minister.

Ms Siddiq is reported to have used a flat in Hampstead, north London, after it was gifted to her sister by an ally of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party.

It has also emerged that the Treasury minister was given a flat in King’s Cross by another associate of senior Awami League members.

Her aunt is facing an investigation by an anti-corruption commission in Bangladesh, with Ms Siddiq reportedly named as part of the case.

The row deepened today after Ms Siddiq was rebuked by the leader of Bangladesh’s interim government, which replaced the Hasina administration in August.

Muhammad Yunus told the Sunday Times that 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 on her to apologise and resign, saying: ‘She becomes the minister for anti-corruption and defends herself. Maybe you didn’t realise it, but now you realise it.

‘You say: ‘Sorry, I didn’t know it (at) that time, I seek forgiveness from the people that I did this and I resign.’ She’s not saying that. She’s defending herself.’

As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.

She reported herself to the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, on Monday.

In a letter to Sir Laurie asking for an investigation to be opened, she maintained she had done nothing wrong.

On the same day, Sir Keir told a press conference Ms Siddiq had ‘acted entirely properly’ in referring herself to Sir Laurie and that he had ‘confidence in her’.

Ms Siddiq also pulled out of accompanying Chancellor Rachel Reeves on her trip to China this weekend in order to be available to help Sir Laurie with his investigation.

Since then, the Sunday Times published further allegations about properties linked to Ms Siddiq and her family, along with Mr Yunus’s comments, prompting Tory calls for her to be sacked.

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride told Sky News this morning: ‘What is not right is that the PM is not moving her out of that position and getting her to step down.

‘Because she is the anti-corruption minister, she has serious charges laid against her now, or serious accusations around corruption, and it’s going to be really impossible for her to do that job under current circumstances.

‘So she should step down, and the PM needs to get a grip of that.’

He added: ‘There are circumstances, I think, where you are in a situation where you cannot actually do your job effectively.

‘Now look, the Chancellor has gone over to China, Tulip Siddiq, my understanding was that she was due to be joining her now she hasn’t, and I would imagine joining the dots, that’s because of the circumstances surrounding her at the moment.

‘So at the moment, she’s not in a position to be able to properly carry out her role in Government, and the PM needs to get a grip and to move her on.’

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch last night said it was ‘time for Keir Starmer to sack’ Ms Siddiq.

She posted on social media: ‘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.

‘Tulip Siddiq has become a distraction when the Government should be focused on dealing with the financial problems it has created and the consequences for millions of families across the country.

‘The PM tried to make a big deal of his commitment to standards and integrity. His weak leadership on Siddiq suggests he is not as bothered by integrity as he claims.’

A Cabinet minister today promised Sir Keir will act on the findings of Sir Laurie’s investigation into Ms Siddiq.

Science Secretary Peter Kyle told Sky News: ‘I think she’s done exactly the right thing, she’s referred herself, that inquiry needs to go through.’

He added: ‘I think the right way to go through this is to allow the authorities to investigate, we have given more powers to those authorities to do independent investigations, and you know full well when it comes to Keir Starmer he will listen to what the authorities say.’

In her letter to Sir Laurie, Ms Siddiq said: ‘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.’

Ms Siddiq was reportedly named in an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh.

She is 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.

Ms Siddiq has ‘denied any involvement in the claims’ accusing her of involvement in embezzlement, according to No 10.

Sources close to the minister have described the allegations as ‘spurious’.

Associated Press footage from 2013 shows Ms Siddiq attending the signing of the deal between her aunt and Russian president Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.