Tulip Siddiq refers to herself as a government adviser at ministerial levels.

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Sir Keir Starmer revealed on Monday that City of England Minister Tulip Siddiq has appointed herself a government adviser on ministerial standards for her property holdings.

The UK prime minister said at a press conference on Monday that the minister “acted absolutely appropriately” in going to Sir Laurie Magnus to report on the links between her assets and the ousted Bangladeshi government.

The FT reported on Friday that Siddique became the owner of a two-bedroom flat near King’s Cross in 2004.

The property was bought three years ago for £195,000 by Abdul Motalif, a developer with links to senior figures in the Awami League, the Bangladeshi party led by Sheikh Hasina, Siddique’s aunt and the country’s former prime minister.

Siddique, who is responsible for fighting corruption, has lived in several properties linked to her aunt. Sheikh Hasina and her party have denied the claims, but he has been accused of defrauding the country’s banking system.

Speaking of Siddiq, Starmer said: “I have confidence in her and the process going on now”, adding that the Labor government’s new ministerial rules “will allow ministers to ask the adviser to confirm the facts”.

In her letter to Magnus, Siddiq said she had “done nothing wrong”.

She said: “In recent weeks, I have been in the media reporting about financial issues and my family’s relationship with the former Bangladeshi government.

“For the avoidance of doubt,” she added. “I want you to state the truth about these matters independently. I will certainly provide you with all the information you need to do so.”

The government confirmed on Monday that Siddique will not be accompanying British Chancellor Rachel Reeves on a trip to China this week.

A government official said: “Tulip wants to be in the UK, so she is ready to help the ministerial level independent adviser.”

Over the weekend, the Sunday Times reported that Siddiq was living in a separate property in Hampstead where Moin Ghani, a prominent lawyer representing the Bangladeshi government now led by the Awami League, had moved in with her sister.

People familiar with Siddiq’s position confirmed her living conditions.