TREASURY minister Tulip Siddiq has referred herself to the Prime Minister’s independent ethics adviser amid controversy over properties linked to her family and her aunt’s political movement in Bangladesh.

She has faced calls for an investigation over reports that she lived in properties in London linked to allies of her relative, the former prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina.

Ms Hasina was deposed in August last year following an uprising against her leadership and is now subject to an investigation by the country’s anti-corruption commission.

Ms Siddiq has reportedly been named as part of the case, alleged to have been involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in which large sums of cash are said to have been embezzled.

In her letter today to ministerial standards watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus, the anti-corruption minister said: “In recent weeks I have been the subject of media reporting, much of it inaccurate, about my financial affairs and my family’s links to the former government of Bangladesh.

“I am clear that I have done nothing wrong.

“However, for the avoidance of doubt, I would like you to independently establish the facts about these matters.

“I will obviously ensure you have all the information you need to do this.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.

“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and, yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”

Ms Siddiq had been due to join a delegation heading to China this week, but will now stay in Britain as she fights to clear her name following reports that she had lived in properties linked to her aunt’s regime.

The Sunday Times reported she had used a flat in Hampstead, north London, which had been given to her teenage sister by lawyer Moin Ghani, who had represented the Hasina administration.

The Financial Times revealed she had also used an apartment in King’s Cross given to her by Abdul Motalif, another associate of members of the Awami League party in Bangladesh.