SIR Keir Starmer is defying calls to sack his embattled anti-corruption minister despite mounting pressure.
Tulip Siddiq’s campaign materials were discovered among luxury items and confidential documents in the ransacked official residence of her aunt, ousted Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina,
Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq[/caption]
Ousted Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina[/caption]
But Cabinet Minister Peter Kyle suggested the PM would only remove her if a formal probe found she had broken the rules.
The Treasury Minister is under growing scrutiny over links to London properties tied to her aunt, who was forced from power last year amid corruption claims.
Ms Siddiq referred herself to the ministerial standards watchdog but insists she has done nothing wrong.
She has also been separately named in a Bangladesh corruption probe over claims she benefited from a Russian-backed nuclear deal.
Pressure mounted further yesterday as Bangladeshi leader and Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus urged her to quit, saying any properties linked to her should be returned if obtained through “plain robbery.”
And Ms Siddiq’s campaign material was found in the Dhaka property, alongside Chanel and Swarovski bags, a $1,500 Montblanc pen box, and a diamond certificate.
Also discovered was legal advice from a UK barrister on suppressing investigative journalism into the regime, and documents for opening an overseas bank account.
The Sunday Times received exclusive access to the site, describing it as heavily guarded, with debris and dust covering the rooms and its surrounding gardens.
Ms Siddiq has also been named in a Bangladesh corruption probe over claims she benefited from a Russian-backed nuclear deal.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the PM of “weak leadership,” saying Ms Siddiq cannot stay in the role while under investigation.
But defending her, Science Secretary Mr Kyle told Sky News yesterday: “I think the right way to go through this is to allow the authorities to investigate, we have given more powers to those authorities to do independent investigations, and you know full well when it comes to Keir Starmer he will listen to what the authorities say.”
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden echoed his colleague’s comments and insisted the PM has full confidence in Ms Siddiq.
