Minister beneath fireplace as Tory calls for new investigation amid corruption probe | Politics | News | EUROtoday

The Treasury minister named in an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh should additionally face a probe by Parliament’s Standards Commissioner, Sir Keir Starmer was instructed.

Tulip Siddiq is alleged to have been concerned in brokering a 2013 cope with Russia for a nuclear energy plant in Bangladesh wherein massive sums of money are alleged to have been embezzled.

The Labour minister’s aunt, Sheikh Hasina, was till just lately prime minister of Bangladesh for greater than 20 years.

She is going through a wider investigation by an anti-corruption fee within the south Asian nation after being deposed.

And a Conservative MP on Thursday evening wrote to Daniel Greenberg, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, calling for him to look into the allegations.

As financial secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is liable for tackling corruption within the UK’s monetary markets.

The un-named Tory MP’s letter, revealed by the Daily Mail, stated: “The public must be able to have confidence in the integrity of its Members of Parliament.

“Without correct clarification and transparency from Ms Siddiq, I really feel that she dangers bringing her place, and the broader House, into vital disrepute.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman indicated Sir Keir continues to have confidence in Ms Siddiq.

She has “denied any involvement within the claims” accusing her of involvement in embezzlement, according to No 10, and continues to maintain her responsibility as a minister.

Pressed about whether there was any conflict of interest in Ms Siddiq’s involvement in the 2013 deal, the spokesman said: “I can not converse to occasions that occurred previous to a minister’s time in authorities.”

A Labour party spokesman said Ms Siddiq “completely refutes” the claims.

The spokesman said: “Absolutely no proof has been offered for these allegations, which originated from an American aerospace web site in August.

“Tulip Siddiq has not been contacted on the matter and totally refutes the claims.”

He added there was a “very clear declaration process” for ministers, which had been adopted.

Ms Siddiq has not been formally contacted by related Bangladeshi authorities, it’s understood.

She has been approached for remark, and the Labour Party has declined to remark.

But sources near the minister have described the allegations as “spurious”.

The Conservatives steered experiences about Ms Siddiq revealed a “stain” on the Prime Minister’s judgement, and urged the Treasury minister to handle the claims immediately.

Matt Vickers, a shadow Home Office minister, stated: “It is high time she came clean. The British public deserve a Government that is focused on their priorities, not distracted by yet another scandal.”

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

Former Bangladeshi chief Ms Hasina fled to India in August following an rebellion, and is regarded by her critics as an autocrat.

They have since accused Ms Hasina, the chief of Bangladesh’s Awami League political occasion, of a number of crimes.

Ms Siddiq, the MP for Hampstead and Highgate, was first elected in 2015.

In court docket paperwork seen by the BBC, Mr Hajjaj claims Ms Siddiq mediated and co-ordinated conferences as a part of a deal between the Bangladeshi and Russian governments to construct the Rooppur Power Plant.

It can also be claimed that Ms Hasina and members of her household siphoned off money from the deal for their very own non-public use.

Associated Press footage from 2013 exhibits Ms Siddiq attending the signing of the deal between her aunt and Russian president Vladimir Putin on the Kremlin.