As Guido reported earlier, Starmer’s independent adviser probe into Siddiq won’t actually investigate corruption claims in Bangladesh, though questions over her family ties to the authoritarian regime aren’t going away. New revelations have surfaced that Siddiq spoke at an event in 2016 hosted by a group accused of supporting her aunt’s authoritarian party through the spread of disinformation. Turns out Siddiq’s ‘despot’ aunt was more than eager for Siddiq to engage in Bangladeshi politics…
Speaking at the event organised by Centre for Research and Information, Siddiq revealed how her aunt Hasina had urged her to become involved in politics in Bangladesh, saying “When my aunt saw me, she told me, ‘Come here, do politics here.’” Keen for help…
Siddiq explained her mother Sheikh Rehana advised against it: “My mother did not want me in politics even anywhere in the world due to her personal experiences. Politics destroyed my mother’s life. But I got her nod when I joined politics in Britain. She even supported my entire campaign”. Rehana is described as “a prominent leader of the Awami League” and a “strong advocate for the Awami Lague’s causes”, organising party meetings on Hasina’s behalf when she was in imprisoned in 2007-2008. A reminder that Awami League’s UK wing reportedly supported Siddiq’s re-election campaign in 2019…
Siddiq went on to say that a politician could serve people from anywhere in the world. “You don’t have to be in Bangladesh or England…I try to help Bangladeshis in England in whatever way it is possible.” Meanwhile, Siddiq’s been living in a £2.1 million home in East Finchley owned by executive member of Awami League’s UK wing Abdul Karim since 2022. Growing scrutiny over Siddiq’s involvement with Hasina’s regime is pushing her closer to the brink…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”