Labour MP and former Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq has vehemently rejected a corruption conviction handed down by a court in Bangladesh, labelling the process "flawed and farcical". The MP for Hampstead and Highgate was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison on Monday 1st December 2025.
A Political Verdict, Says Siddiq
In a strongly-worded statement, Ms Siddiq dismissed the ruling from Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court. She declared the outcome "as predictable as it is unjustified" and expressed hope it would be "treated with the contempt it deserves". The MP asserted her focus remains on her London constituents, stating, "I refuse to be distracted by the dirty politics of Bangladesh."
The case centred on a government land project. Judge Rabiul Alam found that Ms Siddiq was guilty of corruptly influencing her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to help her mother, Sheikh Rehana, obtain a piece of land. Sheikh Hasina received a five-year sentence, while Sheikh Rehana was given seven years. All three women, who are outside Bangladesh, were tried in absentia.
Labour Party and Legal Backing
The Labour Party has stated it does not recognise the judgment. A party spokesperson emphasised that Ms Siddiq was denied a fair legal process, having never been properly informed of the charges despite repeated requests through her lawyers. The party insists anyone facing charges must have the right to legal representation, a right denied in this instance.
Ms Siddiq's legal team has consistently called the charges baseless and politically motivated. The MP previously told The Guardian she was "collateral damage" in a feud between her aunt and Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, describing the accusations as "completely absurd".
Ministerial Resignation and UK Stance
This verdict follows Ms Siddiq's resignation from her Treasury role earlier this year. She stepped down after an investigation by the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, into her links to her aunt's regime, which was overthrown in 2024. While Sir Laurie found no breach of the Ministerial Code, he advised Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider her responsibilities. Ms Siddiq resigned, saying she had become "a distraction".
Cabinet minister Darren Jones publicly supported Ms Siddiq, telling Sky News she denies any wrongdoing and had tried to engage with the Bangladeshi process unsuccessfully. He characterised the trial as "more a political operation than a legal one". Crucially, the UK has no extradition treaty with Bangladesh, meaning the sentence is unlikely to be enforced.
The case highlights the complex intersection of international law, diaspora politics, and the UK's stance on judicial processes abroad, leaving a sitting MP fighting allegations she insists are rooted in foreign political vendettas.
