Sherwood MP Mark Spencer's constituents have spoken out after the Government's chief whip was accused of allegedly using Islamophobic language against a fellow MP.
Nusrat Ghani, a former transport minister for the Conservative Party, alleged a Government whip told her “Muslimness” had been raised as an issue at a Downing Street meeting during a reshuffle of the cabinet in 2020.
Mr Spencer acknowledged he was the subject of the allegation in a tweet on January 22 but denied they were true.
It comes as another round of controversy to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Government and Mr Spencer, whose whips' office came under fire from Tory MP William Wragg who claimed other MPs may have been blackmailed.
The former dairy farmer, whose family owns the Spring Lane farm shop, is one of the most important players in Mr Johnson's Government.
Mr Spencer was thrust into politics in 2001, first winning a Nottinghamshire County Council seat in Hucknall.
Then, in 2010, he was elected as Sherwood's MP where he has sat since to a growing majority.
In 2019, the same year he became chief whip, he secured 60.8% of the vote in the General Election, with 32,049 votes.
His majority surged from 5,198 to 16,186, further pushing Labour's Jerry Hague out of the picture.
His popularity among the electorate was visible even on the surface when Nottinghamshire Live visited Calverton and Hucknall following the recent allegations.
Paula Johnson, who runs The Sweet Cafe in High Street, and Andrew Denham, who was assisting her, said Mr Spencer had before been to visit the 'top rated' dessert cafe on a number of occasions.
Mr Denham, who lives in the area and voted for Mr Spencer in the 2019 election, told Nottinghamshire Live: "I always hold judgement. Because you get good headlines, but is it correct?
"To be fair he held his hands up straight away and if he was hiding something surely he would not have done that?
"I think he's alright. But I will hold my judgement."
A customer in the cafe, who asked not to be named, described Mr Spencer as "an honourable man" and added: "He has done very well down in London. It is good for our area that he is in a position of authority like he is. Local man done good."
Similarly Brian Goodman, who was having lunch in High Street, said: "A person should be innocent until proven guilty. I think it is sour grapes.
"He does a lot down in London but I'd like him up here more."
Nigel Johnson, a former member of the RAF of 38 years who now lives in Hucknall, says Mr Spencer helped him with an issue with his pension.
Mr Johnson says he was in No.7 Squadron, formed in Farnborough, and was injured by a roadside bomb in the Middle East.
"Mark Spencer helped me out," he told Nottinghamshire Live. "My son lives in Sutton-in-Ashfield and he could not even get an appointment with Labour's Gloria De Piero when she was MP.
"I was having some issues with Armed Forces benefits and my pension. Mr Spencer spoke to the Minister in charge to help me. Three years ago now. You can see him and speak to him. He's not shy.
"These allegations, I do not think they will have the slightest effect around here. Ignoring Boris Johnson, purely based on Mr Spencer, I would vote for the Conservatives again.
"I think you are always going to be accused of something in the public eye."
In Calverton the show of support was less evident, with many people completely unaware of the allegations that now surround Mr Spencer.
Many said they would rather not speak of the allegations or simply did not want to engage in politics.
However a resident of Park Road, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "We've used his shop a bit. He has always been alright with us.
"He got us a new road surface outside our house. There were all these potholes. I do not know a lot about Mr Spencer but I cannot imagine it myself.
"He's a good MP overall."
Mr Spencer may have secured a comfortable majority in 2019 but the issues plaguing the Conservative Government at present have not gone unnoticed.
While numerous people in Hucknall town centre generally expressed positive views about Mr Spencer, others were less sure.
One man, who asked not to be named, said: "I could not repeat to you what I think of him".
And Antony Premarasa, 22, who works at the High Street Express convenience store in the town centre, added: "Some of those guys are like that.
"Someone like that, in that position, should not be saying stuff like that if true. It is really sad to see MPs being in a position like that.
"It's not good. I remember when [Jeremy] Corbyn came to Hucknall. But I've never seen Mr Spencer here."
In a series of tweets Mr Spencer said: "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.
"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.
"Pto be included in the report. These claims relate to a meeting in March 2020. When Ms Ghani raised them she was invited to use the formal CCHQ complaints procedure. She declined to do so."
