Tulip Siddiq refers herself for probe by standards adviser

Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq has referred herself to the PM’s requirements adviser after controversy over her hyperlinks to her aunt’s political motion in Bangladesh.

It comes after the minister was named final month in an investigation into claims her household embezzled infrastructure funding within the nation.

Siddiq had confronted rising requires an investigation after experiences in current days she had lived in London properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as Bangladeshi prime minister in August.

In her letter to Sir Laurie Magnus, who polices requirements amongst authorities ministers, she mentioned: “I’m clear that I’ve performed nothing fallacious.”

Downing Road confirmed Sir Laurie would now conduct a “fact-finding” train to find out if “additional motion” was wanted, together with an additional investigation.

A spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the outcomes can be made public, however didn’t specify a timescale for the method to conclude.

In a letter to Sir Laurie despatched on Monday, Siddiq wrote: “In current weeks I’ve been the topic of media reporting, a lot of it inaccurate, about my monetary affairs and my household’s hyperlinks to the previous authorities of Bangladesh.”

She mentioned she had performed nothing fallacious, including: “Nonetheless, for the avoidance of doubt, I would really like you to independently set up the information about these issues.

“I’ll clearly guarantee you’ve all the data you might want to do that.”

Sir Laurie, appointed in 2022, is answerable for advising Sir Keir on whether or not ministers are complying with authorities conduct guidelines.

These embrace stipulations about registering and declaring their monetary pursuits, in addition to broader pointers on how they need to behave as holders of public workplace.

Information of her request was revealed by Sir Keir throughout a press convention on healthcare reform earlier.

The prime minister informed reporters he had confidence in his minister, who as Financial Secretary to the Treasury is answerable for tackling financial crime, cash laundering and illicit finance.

He added she had “acted solely correctly” by referring herself for investigation.

It’s understood Siddiq has cancelled plans to hitch a authorities delegation to China this week, with a Labour supply including she needed to be within the UK so she is “out there to help” Sir Laurie.

The choice to jot down to the requirements adviser comes after experiences she had lived in properties linked to political supporters of her aunt’s authorities.

Final month Siddiq was named in an investigation into claims Sheikh Hasina and her household embezzled as much as £3.9bn from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh.

The investigation is predicated on a sequence of allegations made by Bobby Hajjaj, a senior political opponent of Hasina.

Court docket paperwork seen by the PJDM present Hajjaj has accused Siddiq of serving to to dealer a take care of Russia in 2013 that overinflated the value of a brand new nuclear energy plant in Bangladesh.

It’s claimed that the deal inflated the value of the plant by £1bn, in line with the paperwork – 30% of which was allegedly distributed to Siddiq and different members of the family through a posh community of banks and abroad firms.

A supply near Siddiq has beforehand described the allegations as “trumped up” and designed to wreck her aunt, whereas Downing Road has mentioned Siddiq denies any involvement within the claims accusing her of involvement in embezzlement.

Siddiq was elected MP for Hampstead and Highgate in 2015, the north London constituency neighbouring Sir Keir’s seat of Holborn and St Pancras.

Hasina, who was in control of Bangladesh for greater than 20 years, was seen as an autocrat whose authorities ruthlessly clamped down on dissent.

Since fleeing the nation Hasina has been accused of a number of crimes by the brand new Bangladeshi authorities.

Conservative shadow minister Matt Vickers mentioned there have been “clear questions” for Ms Siddiq to reply about allegations made about her.

“She should be held to the identical requirements as different ministers in his authorities, indications thus far present that that will not be the case,” he added.