UK PM Keir Starmer urged to sack Sheikh Hasina's niece Tulip Siddiq from his Cabinet

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing pressure to sack Labour Minister Tulip Siddiq, the niece of ousted Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina. The pressure is mounting, following Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus' demand that the UK investigate properties allegedly gifted to Siddiq and her family in London by allies of the former regime.

Yunus, in an interview with the Sunday Times, condemned the use of properties gifted to Siddiq and her family by “allies of her aunt’s deposed regime”. He demanded the return of the assets to Bangladesh if she was found to have benefited from "plain robbery".

A member of Britain's Labour Cabinet, Siddiq, serves as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister and is responsible for addressing corruption within the UK’s financial markets.

Siddiq earlier had referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards when media reports brought to light that the London properties she lived in had been gifted by Awami League. In her letter to the authorities, she said, "I have done nothing wrong."

The UK PM has been urged to sack Siddiq following Yunus' rebuke. It has been suggested that the search is under way for her replacement.

Keir Starmer will act on the findings of an independent investigation into Tulip Siddiq’s conduct regardless of the outcome, a cabinet minister has said according to a report by The Guardian.

The Conservatives are mounting pressure on the government to sack Siddiq. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, accused Starmer of appointing “his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she has accused herself of corruption” and called for Siddiq to be sacked.

After she referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards, Science Secretary, Peter Kyle, rejected claims that Siddiq should resign while the independent adviser on ministerial standards, investigated the allegations.

Mel Stride, shadow chancellor said Starmer should "get a grip" and sack Siddiq. “What is not right is that the prime minister is not moving her out of that position and getting her to step down," he added.