Tulip Siddiq under rising pressure to resign over property scandal

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UK Cities Minister Tulip Siddique is under increasing pressure to resign amid a scandal involving the ousted Bangladesh government.

The minister in charge of fighting corruption has lived in multiple properties Associated with his auntFormer Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and her party Awami League. They have been accused of stealing funds from the country’s banking system, although they deny the claims.

“The time has come for Tulip Siddique to explain the source of her wealth and whether any of it came from the proceeds of her aunt’s alleged corrupt dealings,” said shadow home secretary Chris Philp.

He called on Sir Keir Starmer to “remove him from his role as anti-corruption minister until these questions are answered. . . . The Prime Minister’s continued failure to answer any questions or take any action shows that he lacks strength or integrity.”

While Starmer still stands by Siddique, a senior Labor official told the FT that the party leadership was finding it “difficult to protect” his personal financial affairs and that his position was becoming untenable. “It’s becoming a millstone,” they said.

Siddique disclosed the information to FT on Friday Owned a two bedroom flat 2004 to Kings Cross without paying for it. The property was bought three years ago for £195,000 by Abdul Motalif, a developer with links to senior Awami League figures. A similar apartment at the property, which Siddiq still owns, was sold in August for £650,000.

Over the weekend, the Sunday Times first reported that Siddiq lived in a different property in Hampstead that had been handed over to his sister by Moeen Ghani, now a prominent lawyer representing the Awami League-led Bangladesh government. People with knowledge of Siddiq’s whereabouts have confirmed his accommodation.

Goni had previously registered his address as King’s Cross Flats. He did not respond to requests for comment.

He is also renting a £2.1 million house in East Finchley owned by Abdul Karim, executive member of the Awami League’s UK branch. According to Land Registry filings, he moved to the property outside his constituency soon after the purchase in July 2022.

An ally of Siddiq said he was paying “market rates” and that the relationship between him and Karim as landlord and tenant had been duly declared to parliamentary authorities.

Sheikh Hasina was removed from the post of Prime Minister last year after student protests and violent repression. Senior Dr. of the Interim Government of Bangladesh has complained Officials in his regime stole the funds Acquiring property abroad from the banking system. They denied the claims.

While maintaining that he had done nothing wrong, Siddiq gave conflicting explanations for why he came to occupy the property in King’s Cross. The Mail on Sunday reported that he initially told reporters that the flat was bought by his parents.

“Tulip’s previous understanding of how he acquired ownership of the property has changed,” said a person with knowledge of his position.

The person added that Siddique’s parents had indeed given “financial assistance” to an acquaintance and the developer later handed over a property they owned to Siddique “as a token of gratitude”.

Siddiqui did not pay any tax when he acquired the property as it was a gift and therefore exempt from stamp duty, a tax on the purchase of property, the person said.

On Sunday, a person privy to the details clarified that the financial assistance provided by Siddique’s parents to Motalif was repaid in full before the property was handed over. They said he therefore did not charge any stamp duty and took legal advice on the matter.

A senior UK official working on UK policy to tackle kleptocracy told the FT: “The challenge here is the ‘I got a thank you gift from this guy because my politically exposed family helped him’ kind of account. . . that we have to tell the banks. Spending time is not good enough.”