A Cabinet Office investigation has been launched into claims from a Conservative MP that she was sacked as a minister because of her Muslim faith.

Nusrat Ghani was sacked as transport minister in a February 2020 reshuffle.

Downing Street police officers ‘interviewed about partygate’ as PM faces crunch week – politics latest

It is disappointing that when this issue was raised before Ms Ghani declined to refer the matter to the Conservative Party for a formal investigation.
I provided evidence to the Singh Investigation into Islamophobia which concluded that there was no credible basis for the claims

Ms Ghani said she was told by a whip, who she did not identify, that her “Muslimness was raised as an issue” at a meeting in Downing Street.

She said she was also told that her “Muslim woman minister status was making colleagues feel uncomfortable” and that there were concerns “that I wasn’t loyal to the party as I didn’t do enough to defend the party against Islamophobia allegations”.

Chief whip Mark Spencer later said he was the whip in question, but has described her allegations as “completely false”.

He added: “I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me.”

Ms Ghani has also claimed that when she raised the matter directly with the PM, he told her he could not get involved.

Number 10 says PM told MP to make formal complaint

Now, Downing Street has confirmed that Boris Johnson has asked the Cabinet Office to carry out an inquiry into the allegations.

“At the time these allegations were first made, the prime minister recommended to her that she make a formal complaint to CCHQ. She did not take up this offer,” a Number 10 spokesperson said.

“The prime minister has now asked officials to establish the facts about what happened.

“As he said at the time, the prime minister takes these claims very seriously.”

Responding to the launch of an investigation, Ms Ghani said she welcomed the news.

“The terms of reference of the inquiry must include all that was said in Downing Street and by the whip,” she wrote on Twitter.

“I look forward to seeing the terms of reference.”

My response to No10 announcement pic.twitter.com/Y3NOqQAk5G

Minister says ‘we need to get to the bottom of this’

Speaking to Sky News shortly after the inquiry was announced, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said Ms Ghani has made a “very serious allegation”.

“She put out a statement last night saying actually, to be fair to her, this could be people who weren’t even members of the Conservative Party, which is why we need to get to the bottom of this very quickly,” he told Kay Burley.

“And of course the chief whip has come out and named himself as the individual and I work with both colleagues, and I think it is important that someone like a Cabinet Office senior civil servant should look at this properly, because the chief whip has also categorically denied this.”

The development comes at the start of what is shaping up to be a crucial week for the PM and his future in Downing Street.

Another Cabinet Office inquiry, into parties and gatherings in Downing Street and other government departments during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021, is due to be released.

Depending on what the report finds, it could see Tory MPs push for a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson.

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