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UK Cities Minister Tulip Siddique is facing mounting pressure to resign after being embroiled in a scandal linked to the ousted Bangladeshi government.
The minister, who is responsible for fighting corruption, lives in properties linked to her aunt, former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and her Awami League group. They are accused of siphoning funds from the country’s banking system, an allegation they deny.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Phillip said: ‘The time has come for Tulip Siddiq to explain the source of her wealth and whether it came from the proceeds of her aunt’s allegedly corrupt dealings. ” he said.
He called on Sir Keir Starmer to “remove her from her role as anti-corruption minister until these questions are resolved.” . The Prime Minister’s failure to answer any questions or take any action shows that he lacks strength and integrity. ”
Mr Starmer remains by Mr Siddiq’s side, but a senior Labor Party official told the FT that the party leadership was finding it “difficult” to defend her personal finances and that Mr Starmer’s He said his position was becoming untenable. “It is turning into a millstone,” they said.
The FT revealed on Friday that Siddique became the owner of the two-bedroom flat near King’s Cross in 2004. The property was bought three years ago for £195,000 by developer Abdul Motrif, who has links to Awami League executives. A similar flat, which Mr Siddique still owns, was sold in August for £650,000.
Last weekend, the Sunday Times reported for the first time that Mr Siddique was living in another property in Hampstead that had been transferred to his sister by Moin Ghani, a prominent lawyer who now represents the Awami League-led Bangladeshi government. Reported. People familiar with Siddique’s situation confirmed her living conditions.
Mr Ghani had previously registered his address as Kings Cross Apartments. He did not respond to requests for comment.
She also rents a £2.1m house in East Finchley owned by Abdul Karim, an executive with the British arm of the Awami League. She moved into the property outside her constituency shortly after purchasing it in July 2022, according to Land Registry filings.
Siddiq’s allies said she was paying “market price” and that the relationship between her and Karim as landlord and tenant had been properly declared to council authorities.
Sheikh Hasina was ousted as prime minister last year in the wake of student protests and a violent crackdown. Bangladesh’s interim government has alleged that its top officials have siphoned funds from the banking system to acquire properties overseas. They denied the allegations.
Mr Siddiq insists he has done nothing wrong but has given contradictory accounts of how he came to own the King’s Cross property. The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that she initially told reporters that the apartment had been purchased by her parents.
“The previous understanding of how Tulip acquired ownership of the property has changed,” said a person familiar with her position.
The source said that Siddique’s parents had in fact provided “financial assistance” to an acquaintance, and that the developer then transferred the property owned by his parents to Siddique as an “act of gratitude.” added.
According to the person, Siddique did not pay any taxes when he acquired the property because it was a gift and the purchase was exempt from stamp duty.
On Sunday, a person familiar with the details said that the financial support provided to Motlif by Siddiq’s parents was fully repaid before the property was transferred. She therefore had no stamp duty liability and had taken legal advice to that effect, they said.
A senior British official working on UK policy to counter theft told the FT: “The challenge here is to have an explanation that says something like, ‘My politically exposed family helped him, so I got a gift from this guy as a thank you.'” . We argue that it’s not enough just to take the time to tell your bank. ”
