PM's ethics adviser investigates Tory MP Nus Ghani's Islamophobia claim

Rishi Sunak's morals advisor has taken implicit an probe into claims by a Tory MP that she was sacked arsenic a curate for being Muslim.

Nus Ghani said a enactment manager told her "Muslimness was raised arsenic an issue".

Labour has said it is "disgraceful" that an probe into her allegations launched past January has yet to beryllium completed.

The probe was delayed pursuing the resignation of then-PM Boris Johnson's morals advisor Lord Geidt.

He near successful June and was not replaced until December erstwhile Mr Sunak appointed Laurie Magnus, who volition present transportation connected the inquiry.

Labour enactment seat Anneliese Dodds has been pushing for the probe to beryllium completed, saying the hold "tells you everything you request to cognize astir the Conservatives' committedness to tackling Islamophobia".

Asked astir the inquiry, Head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission Marcial Boo said helium would beryllium pursuing up connected it with Sir Laurie.

Ms Ghani archetypal made her accusation successful the Sunday Times successful January 2022.

When appointed to a station astatine the Department for Transport successful 2018, she became the archetypal pistillate Muslim curate to talk successful the Commons.

After losing that occupation successful a mini-reshuffle of Boris Johnson's authorities successful February 2020 she asked Conservative Party whips for an explanation.

"I was told that astatine the reshuffle gathering successful Downing Street that 'Muslimness' was raised arsenic an 'issue'," she said.

She added that she was told: "My 'Muslim women minister' presumption was making colleagues uncomfortable and that determination were concerns 'that I wasn't loyal to the enactment arsenic I didn't bash capable to support the enactment against Islamophobia allegations'."

The Wealden MP told the insubstantial she had dropped the substance aft being told that if she "persisted" she "would beryllium ostracised and her vocation and estimation would beryllium destroyed".

"I raised it respective much times done authoritative enactment channels.... I was highly cautious to travel procedure, and erstwhile the process ran retired of roadworthy I had nary prime but to get connected with my career."

In a aboriginal connection she said: "Not a time has gone by without reasoning astir what I was told and wondering wherefore I was successful politics... those that person not had their individuality and religion questioned cannot afloat admit what it does to you."

Mark Spencer, who astatine the clip was main whip, identified himself arsenic the idiosyncratic Ms Ghani was referring to, saying helium did not privation others successful the whip's bureau to beryllium "drawn into this matter".

He added that the accusations were "completely mendacious and I see them to beryllium defamatory".

The Sherwood MP went connected to accidental it was "disappointing" that astatine the clip Ms Ghani had declined to notation the substance for a ceremonial Conservative Party investigation.

Following the accusation, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the Cabinet Office to behaviour an enquiry to "establish the facts astir what happened".

Since then, Ms Ghani has been brought backmost into authorities arsenic a concern minister, portion Mr Spencer has moved from the whip's bureau to the situation department.

A twelvemonth connected from the enquiry being launched, the BBC has been told that Sir Laurie was taking it over.

EHRC main enforcement Marcial Boo said helium was successful regular interaction with the writer of a 2021 study into Islamophobia successful the Conservative Party.

When Ms Ghani made her allegations, the EHRC said it would "consider immoderate findings" from the government's inquiry, adding: "If we are not satisfied with progress, we volition not regularisation retired the usage of our ineligible powers."

The BBC has contacted Ms Ghani and Mr Spencer for a comment.