Guido sat down with Bobby Hajjaj, the Bangladeshi politician responsible for filing the original claim against Tulip Siddiq to the Anti-Corruption Commission in Dhakka, for an exclusive interview about the Siddiq scandal. The Bangladeshi opposition figure does not hold back…
Tulip herself denies any wrongdoing and there is no evidence or suggestion that she or the Labour Party had any involvement in illicit cash being moved from Bangladesh to the UK, or other allegations made by Hajjaj including that she paid her way into parliament and government. Her team has subsequently claimed she only has a UK bank account, but has not commented on her alleged possession of dual nationality. A court order issued against Siddiq in Bangladesh bears a Bangladeshi National ID Card number for her, suggesting she is a Bangladeshi dual national. Either way, the Bangladeshis are clearly not dropping the matter…
When asked about claims about her involvement in a Russia-backed nuclear plant, a spokesman for Ms Siddiq previously told the Daily Mail: ‘No evidence has been presented for these allegations. Tulip has not been contacted by anyone on the matter and totally refutes the claims.’ Moreover, Labour claims the reason Siddiq left government was solely due to the findings of the Independent Adviser, published in his letter. Guido reliably hears that at the most senior levels of the Bangladeshi government the UK’s full co-operation is expected when it comes to the retrieval of funds and assets allegedly embezzled. The NCA will not comment on any ongoing investigations. UK Government teams are known to be in the capital working with the new government. This will be an awkward diplomatic situation to put it mildly…
Labour will be hoping that Siddiq’s departure from government will be the end of the matter. That’s hopeful, given that the new authorities in Bangladesh have only just started…
Douglas Alexander – a friend of Starmer’s – was asked on Sky News if the PM will be in post at the next election. He wasn’t so sure himself:
“I think he will. There are no certainties but of course I think he will lead and I think he should because, frankly, on the biggest call in this parliament he’s exercised the right judgment, which is to keep us out of someone else’s war.”