Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch has called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to remove Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq from her post, following allegations that her family embezzled up to £3.9bn ($5.3bn) from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s new leader, Muhammad Yunus, also stated that Siddiq should apologise after reports emerged that she had lived in London properties with links to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed as prime minister of Bangladesh last year. Siddiq has since referred herself to the prime minister’s standards adviser and has denied any wrongdoing.
Downing Street confirmed that an investigation will be conducted by Sir Laurie Magnus, who overlooks standards among government ministers, to determine whether any further action is needed, including a deeper investigation. Siddiq is responsible for tackling economic crime, money laundering, and illicit finance, adding to calls for her to be removed from the post.
Badenoch claimed that Siddiq has become a distraction for the government who should be focusing on the financial problems that it has created. She also emphasised the serious concerns being raised by the government of Bangladesh regarding Siddiq’s links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina. Yunus suggested that the properties used by Siddiq should be investigated and returned if they were gained through “plain robbery”.
These allegations form part of a wider investigation by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission into Hasina, who has been accused of multiple crimes by the current Bangladeshi government. Siddiq’s letter to Magnus emphasized that media reports are inaccurate and that she has not acted inappropriately. Sir Keir Starmer has supported Siddiq thus far, stating his confidence in his minister and her actions in referring herself for investigation
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