Boris Johnson met with Nusrat Ghani to discuss her “extremely serious claims” that she was sacked as a minister because of concerns about her “Muslimness”, Downing Street has said.
A No 10 spokesman said in a statement that the Prime Minister invited her to make a formal complaint but she did not do so.
“After being made aware of these extremely serious claims, the Prime Minister met with Nusrat Ghani to discuss them,” the spokesman said.
“He then wrote to her expressing his serious concern and inviting her to begin a formal complaint process. She did not subsequently do so.
“The Conservative Party does not tolerate prejudice or discrimination of any kind.”
The Conservatives should hold an independent inquiry into Islamophobia, Labour has said.
Responding to accusations made by Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani that she was fired from a ministerial role for her “Muslimness”, shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said: “I know Nus Ghani… I have always found her to be a deeply serious and principled individual. When she makes an allegation like this, I believe her.”
Speaking to Times Radio, Ms Thornberry added that the Conservative Party “just don’t take Islamophobia in their midst seriously”.
She added: “I would like to see an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Tory Party in the same way that we quite rightly held an independent inquiry into the poison that is anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.”
The civil servant in charge of investigating the Downing Street parties is “dutiful in speaking truth to power” Dominic Raab has said while facing questions about her independence.
The Deputy Prime Minister was questioned about Sue Gray on Times Radio.
In response, Mr Raab said: “If you know Sue Gray – and I have known her for several years now – she has worked under successive prime ministers,
“I don’t think you could have anyone who is more confident and dutiful in speaking truth to power.”
