A key ally of Sir Keir Starmer today gave his full backing to anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq – despite calls for the Prime Minister to sack her.
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 Labour minister is also alleged to have been involved in 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 once claimed she and her aunt ‘never talk about politics’, but fresh links have now emerged between the two politicians.
The Times published photographs of Labour posters and flyers produced by Ms Siddiq found in the ruins of Sheikh Hasina’s former residence.
And Sky News unearthed old blog posts written by Ms Siddiq, in which she described campaigning with her aunt in Bangladesh’s election and celebrating her victory.
A key ally of Sir Keir Starmer gave his full backing to anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq – despite calls for the Prime Minister to sack her
Sir Keir Starmer has been told to ‘get a grip’ and axe Ms Siddiq amid questions about her property interests
Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, expressed his full confidence in the Treasury minister
At the weekend, Ms Siddiq was rebuked by the leader of Bangladesh’s interim government, which replaced the Hasina administration in August.
Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said properties used by Ms Siddiq should handed back to his government if they were acquired through ‘plain robbery’.
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, last week.
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 that Ms Siddiq had ‘acted entirely properly’ in referring herself to Sir Laurie and he had ‘confidence in her’.
Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, this morning also expressed his full confidence in the Treasury minister.
Asked by Times Radio if he had full confidence in Ms Siddiq, Mr McFadden – whose influence in Government has seen him dubbed the ‘real deputy PM’ – replied: ‘Yes.’
He added: ‘She has done the right thing. All these allegations have been made, and she has referred all of them to the independent adviser on ministerial 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.
‘That is what he is doing, and that is the right way to deal with this.’
Associated Press footage from 2013 shows Ms Siddiq attending the signing of a deal between her aunt and Russian president Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin
Ms Siddiq pulled out of accompanying Chancellor Rachel Reeves on her recent trip to China in order to be available to help Sir Laurie with his investigation.
The Sunday Times published further claims 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: ‘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.’
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.’
Sources close to the minister have described allegations as ‘spurious’.
In a blog post written in late 2008, when she was a Labour activist, Ms Siddiq – as reported by Sky News – told supporters: ‘The Awami League have won the elections by a landslide! Sheikh Hasina is the prime minister-elect! I am ecstatic!
‘I’ve been on the campaign trail with Sheikh Hasina all day so I don’t really have the energy to write much more but I will do so tomorrow.
‘However, I can’t resist uploading a couple of photos. This is Sheikh Hasina’s face just before she heard the results from an unwinnable constituency.
‘Here she is after she heard that the Awami League hard work had paid off in that seat.’