‘Prattle’: Camden leader dismisses Tory attack on Labour over Bangladeshi political ties

The leader of Camden Council has shrugged off the suggestion that the borough’s Labour party has been unduly influenced by Bangladeshi politics, following the resignation of a local lawmaker with ties to the country’s former ruling party.

Hampstead and Highgate MP Tulip Siddiq quit the government last week amid multiple investigations into her links with her aunt, the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and other officials from Awami League (AL).

The wider alleged sway of the AL within the Town Hall’s corridors has also come under scrutiny — including speculation around the months-long absence of the borough’s former mayor.

In light of this, the leader of Camden Conservatives Cllr Steve Adams (Frognal) took the opportunity at Monday’s (20 Jan) full council meeting to prod council chief Richard Olszewski (Labour) over the controversy, and the supposed links between his party and the AL.

“It would be wrong of me not to comment on the recent stories that have been in the press and abroad about influence in Camden and on Camden by foreign political parties,” he said.

“This is not an acceptable thing. I would ask the leader to please commit to annulling the marriage of convenience between Camden Labour and the Awami League.”

Cllr Adams did not raise any explicit allegations regarding links between the two parties.

His comment, which drew groans from the Labour benches, was given short shrift by the leader, who deemed it “prattle” that was “actually quite beneath [Adams]”.

“We are aware of Conservative Party leaflets that describe one of Camden’s MPs in borderline racist terms,” Cllr Olszewski said.

“They should look at their own house before they start throwing stones at ours.”

Camden’s leader notably praised Siddiq for doing the “right” thing after she resigned from the frontbench last week to avoid creating a “distraction” for the government.

Though she was cleared of any “improprieties” by the independent adviser for ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, the watchdog added it was “regrettable that she was not more alert to the potential reputational risks – both to her and the Government – arising from her close family’s association with Bangladesh”.

As Economic Secretary to the Treasury, the member for Hampstead and Highgate was responsible for fighting financial corruption, but is now facing probes regarding properties gifted to her and her family by alleged AL officials.

She has also been accused of abetting a “corrupt” deal between Bangladesh and Russia — which she flatly denies.

Ms Siddiq has since been confronted by calls from Hampstead and Highgate Conservatives for her to stand down as MP altogether, to “restore the integrity of our parliamentary representation”.

The alleged links between Camden Council and the AL came to light last year following the prolonged absence of former mayor, Cllr Nazra Rahman, from the Town Hall.

Doubts were cast over Cllr Rahman’s future as a ward member after she missed several meetings.

It was later revealed by the Borough Solicitor that she and her family had “gone into hiding” in Bangladesh during the civil unrest that saw the deposed leader Sheikh Hasina flee the country.

Hasina is facing allegations of crimes against humanity and corruption, including for the deaths of at least 800 protestors.

A video shared by the journalist David Bergman in November appeared to show Cllr Rahman’s husband, Mr Azadur Rahman Azad, using Camden Town Hall’s ceremonial offices to make a political broadcast.

Mr Rahman Azad is reported to have been a senior organiser for the AL, and has been elected as a ward councillor for the party in Bangladesh’s Sylhet region.

The Camden New Journal reported last week that the council confirmed permission had not been sought before Mr Rahman Azad made his video, which is understood to have taken place while Cllr Rahman was the borough’s civic mayor.

It is understood that no action is being taken against her.