New British MP Tulip Siddiq says she learned politics from aunt Sheikh Hasina

Tulip Siddiq is grateful to her aunt, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who the newly elected British MP learned politics from.

After announcement of the results for the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency in the early hours of Friday, she told Bangla-speaking journalists: “Today I remember my aunt the most as she has taught me the most.

“I learned everything about politics from her – social justice, how to campaign and how to reach out to the people,” the Labour Party MP added.

Siddiq, granddaughter of Bangladesh’s independence architect Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said she would work ‘for all’ irrespective of their races.

She also expressed gratitude to her parents Shafiq Siddiq and Sheikh Rehana and husband Chris Percy for their help during election.

“My parents have extended immense support. It’s not possible for anyone to contest (election) without the support from family and husband,” she said.

Siddiq, 32, won the polls by 1,138 votes. She drew 23,977 votes while her nearest rival from the Conservative party got 22,839.

Asked for her reaction, she said: “Actually I can’t still believe (that I’ve won the polls). I campaigned for the last two years.

“I’ve been elected MP from my own area. Now I’m an MP of myself too.”

“I’m still surprised. People’s blessings and help led to this victory,” she added.

Siddiq declined comments on the defeat of the Labour Party until full results of the elections were out.

She also spoke about two other British-Bangladeshi Labour candidates Rupa Huq and Rushanara Ali who won as well.

“We support each other... Now we three are in parliament. If we can work together, many things can be done for our community.”

Siddiq said Bengali community would lag behind others if they squabbled among themselves and indulged in negative campaign against one another.

“I was shocked to find that some people were carrying out negative campaign against me. They lied about my family,” she said.