The anti-corruption minister under investigation over London properties linked to the former Bangladeshi regime has the full support of the Government, a cabinet minister insisted on Monday.
Tulip Siddiq has referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards after it was revealed she had lived homes linked to political allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh through her Awami League party with an iron fist from 1996.
Hasina resigned and fled to India in August last year after weeks of protests spiralled into nationwide unrest that led to over 1,500 deaths.
There have also been questions about trips Ms Siddiq took to Russia alongside her aunt.
The Hampstead and Highgate MP is also said to have been involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in which large sums of cash are alleged to have been embezzled.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said he has full confidence in Ms Siddiq.
He told Times Radio: “She has done the right thing. All these allegations have been made, and she has referred all of them to the independent adviser on ministerial interests.
“When we won the election six months ago, we boosted the powers of the independent adviser in the new ministerial code that was issued, to make sure that he had the power to initiate and carry out investigations into allegations like this.
“That is what he is doing, and that is the right way to deal with this.”
The Tories have said the Prime Minister must show leadership following the allegations.
Asked about reports that Ms Siddiq lived at properties in London linked to allies of her aunt, the former Bangladeshi prime minister, shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said he was more interested in the “tone at the top” of Government.
He told LBC News: “It is not about any individual minister, it is about the tone that the Prime Minister… remember he called himself ‘Mr Rules’, ‘Mr Integrity’, and it immediately transpired he had been having other people, donors, pay for his wife’s clothes and accepting hospitality to Taylor Swift concerts?
“It is not about any one individual to me. It is about the tone at the top, what sort of Prime Minister leadership we are going to see in this space.”