Nus Ghani, Conservative MP for Wealden, was replaced as transport minister in a February 2020 reshuffle, during which she was allegedly told that her “Muslimness was raised as an issue”.
Ghani, who had worked in her post at the Department for Transport since 2018, became the first female Muslim minister to speak in the House of Commons.
Ghani also alleges that she was told 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”.
An investigation was delayed following the resignation of then-PM Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser Lord Geidt in June 2022. In December, prime minister Rishi Sunak appointed Laurie Magnus, who will now carry on the inquiry.
Former chief whip Mark Spencer named himself as the person Ghani was referring to
While Ghani did not reveal the chief whip who allegedly told her this, on 22 January 2022, Mark Spencer, Conservative MP for Sherwood and Defra minister, took to Twitter, stating that he was the person Ghani was referring to.
To ensure other Whips are not drawn into this matter, I am identifying myself as the person Nusrat Ghani MP has made claims about this evening.
These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me
— Mark Spencer (@Mark_Spencer) January 22, 2022
