Tulip Siddiq speaking in the House of Commons this week

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THE leader of the Tories stirred a sharp reaction when he said Camden Labour was in a “marriage of convenience”.

The links between Labour politicians and the now deposed regime in Bangladesh has been rarely mentioned in the council chamber before, but they were raised by the Conservatives on Monday after Hampstead and Highgate MP Tulip Siddiq’s resignation from her ministerial job in the Treasury.

Ms Siddiq said the row over how she and her sister were gifted properties in Camden by figures said to be linked to the Awami League had been a “distraction” to the Labour government but that she had done nothing wrong.

Her aunt is Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League who fled Bangladesh last August following a coup. Her rule had been marked by regular criticism of its human rights record.

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Ms Siddiq has further denied any wrong-doing in relation to claims that she is among those named in a fraud investigation linked to Bangladesh’s nuclear infrastructure deals with Russia.

The Tories sent out leaflets before Christmas asking residents to consider who their MP was and last week said she should resign as the constituency’s representative in parliament. Meanwhile, the council said last week that it did not know that Labour councillor Nazma Rahman’s husband, Azadur Rahman Azad, an Awami League organiser, had filmed a political message inside the mayor’s parlour before it featured on social media.

Other Labour figures have appeared at events in Bangladesh which some have claimed were linked to the Awami League.

Tory group leader Councillor Steve Adams

Conservative group leader Councillor Steve Adams said: “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. This is not an acceptable thing. I would ask the leader of the council to please commit to annulling the marriage of convenience between Camden Labour and the Awami League.”

He was heckled by some Labour councillors as he spoke, but added: “You may be shocked but it’s something I feel I have to say.”

Council leader Labour councillor Richard Olszewski spekaing at Monday’s meeting

Labour council leader Richard Olszewski described Cllr Adams’ remark as “prattle”, adding: “They are comments which I really think are beneath him. We are aware of Conservative Party leaflets that describe one of Camden’s MPs in borderline racist terms. “They should get their own house in order before they start throwing stones at others.”

Ms Siddiq was back in the House of Commons this week talking about Ukrainian refugees and separately thanked people for messages of support. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, her fellow Camden MP, has said the “door remains open” for her one day returning to Labour’s front bench.