Open Editor's Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite stories for this weekly newsletter.
UK City minister Tulip Siddiq has referred herself to the government's adviser on ministerial standards for her clothing, Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday.
The UK Prime Minister said at a press conference on Monday that the minister “acted appropriately” in approaching Sir Laurie Magnus regarding the report about the connection between his property and the ousted Bangladeshi government.
The FT revealed on Friday that Siddiq became the owner of a two-bedroom flat near King's Cross in 2004 without paying.
The property was bought three years earlier for £195,000 by Abdul Motalif, a developer with links to senior figures in the Awami League, the Bangladeshi party led by Sheikh Hasina, Siddiq's aunt and former prime minister of the country.
Siddiq, who is responsible for fighting corruption, lives in several properties belonging to his aunt. Sheikh Hasina and her party have been accused of siphoning money from the country's banks, although they deny the claims.
Starmer said of Siddiq: “I trust him and the process will now take place”, adding that the new ministerial code in the Labor government “allows ministers to ask an adviser to confirm the facts”.
In his letter to Magnus, Siddiq said he had “done nothing wrong”.
He told her, “For the past few weeks I have been the subject of news, much of it inaccurate, about my financial affairs and my family's links to the former government of Bangladesh.”
“For the avoidance of doubt,” he added. “I would like you to independently verify the facts regarding these matters. I will definitely make sure you have all the information you need to do this. “
The government confirmed on Monday that Siddiq will no longer accompany UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves on a trip to China scheduled for this week.
A government official said: “Tulip wants to be in the UK to be available to assist the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.”
Over the weekend, the Sunday Times reported that Siddiq was living in a separate property in Hampstead that had been transferred to his sister by Moin Ghani, now a prominent lawyer representing the Awami League-led government of Bangladesh.
People familiar with Siddiq's position confirmed his accommodation arrangements.