Labour MP Tulip Siddiq 'hit with arrest warrant over alleged corruption charges'

The Bangladeshi government's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has alleged that the MP received a 7,200 square-foot plot of land via "abuse of power and influence" in the capital city Dhaka, The Telegraph reports.

In a statement, Siddiq's representative insisted that the allegations were "completely false" and claimed that they were "politically motivated".

The spokesman added: "The ACC has made various allegations against Ms Siddiq through the media in the last few months.

"The allegations are completely false and have been dealt with in writing by Ms Siddiq’s lawyers.

"The ACC has not responded to Ms Siddiq or put any allegations to her directly or through her lawyers.

"Ms Siddiq knows nothing about a hearing in Dhaka relating to her and she has no knowledge of any arrest warrant that is said to have been issued."

He clarified: "To be clear, there is no basis at all for any charges to be made against her and there is absolutely no truth in any allegation that she received a plot of land in Dhaka through illegal means.

"She has never had a plot of land in Bangladesh, and she has never influenced any allocation of plots of land to her family members or anyone else. No evidence has been provided by the ACC to support this or any other allegation made against Ms Siddiq, and it is clear to us that the charges are politically motivated."

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It is understood that Bangladeshi officials have not been in direct contact with Siddiq.

The MP only became aware of the charges laid before her following media reports on Sunday.

The charge comes amid a wider investigation by the national government into the UK's former City minister into suspected unlawful allocation of state-owned assets to Sheikh Hasana, who was ousted as prime minister of Bangladesh last summer.

In March, the ACC tried to impose a travel ban on Siddiq - as well as her aunt and other relatives.

In the wake of the charge today, the Conservatives have started to call for Siddiq to stand down as a Labour MP entirely - with one Tory politician incredulous at the idea that Starmer remains open to Siddiq's ministerial return to the British Government.

A Tory spokesman said: “If it is the case that Keir Starmer’s choice for anti-corruption minister is the subject of an international arrest warrant for corruption, she should immediately stand down as Labour MP.

“It is shocking that Keir Starmer believes ‘the door remains open’ for Ms Siddiq returning to a government position.

“Keir Starmer must put his close friendship and association with Ms Siddiq aside and take the action he should have months ago.”

Conservative MP for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty joined the tirade, telling The Telegraph: “Keir Starmer has previously suggested that he would welcome her back. How can she return to a government role with persistent questions regarding her conduct?”

Siddiq resigned in January after she became laden with accusations over her connection with her aunt's despotic regime in Bangladesh.

Accepting her resignation letter, the PM responded: "I appreciate that to end ongoing distraction from delivering our agenda to change Britain, you have made a difficult decision and want to be clear that the door remains open for you going forward."