Boris Johnson has called for an inquiry into claims made by Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani, alleging that she was sacked as a junior minister because of concerns about her 'Muslimness'.
Nusrat Ghani said her faith was raised as an issue when she lost her job as transport minister in 2020.
The MP for Wealden told The Sunday Times she was shocked that her 'Muslimness' was discussed during a meeting in the whips’ office after the mini-reshuffle.
“It was like being punched in the stomach. I felt humiliated and powerless,” she told the paper.
Downing Street has today said 'the prime minister takes these claims very seriously'.
Boris Johnson has now asked civil servants to 'establish the facts about what happened'.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Office to conduct an inquiry into the allegations made by Nusrat Ghani MP.
“At the time these allegations were first made, the Prime Minister recommended to her that she make a formal complain to CCHQ (Conservative Campaign Headquarters).
“She did not take up this offer.
“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.”
Conservative chief whip Mark Spencer has denied the claims.
He said that he was the individual who spoke to Ms Ghani – although he strongly denied using the words claimed.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News this morning that Mr Johnson had spoken to Nusrat Ghani last night.
“She has made a very serious allegation, the Prime Minister spoke to her last night and said the Cabinet Office will investigate this and look at the detail of this", he said.
“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.
“And of course the Chief Whip (Mark Spencer) 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.”
