A Tory MP has claimed she was sacked from her ministerial post because of her Muslim faith.
Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden was a transport minister from January 2018 until February 2020.
The married mum became the first female MP to hold her Wealden seat in 2015, winning with a majority of 22,967.
But Ms Ghani considered quitting politics after her interaction with a Government whip who said her "Muslimness was raised as an issue" at a Downing Street meeting, she told the Sunday Times.
The whip added her "Muslim woman minister status was making colleagues feel uncomfortable", and questioned her loyalty to the Party.
Ms Ghani, now vice-chairwoman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers told the newspaper: "It was like being punched in the stomach. I felt humiliated and powerless."
"I was told... 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'."
Ms Ghani's claims relate to a meeting back in March 2020. When she raised the issue, she was asked to use the formal complaints procedure but she declined to.
Government Chief Whip Mark Spencer took to Twitter to identify himself as the person behind the MP's claims.
In one now-deleted tweet, he wrote: "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."
The conduct of the whips' office has come under intense scrutiny amid accusations they used intimidation and blackmail to pressure MPs seeking to oust Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.
William Wragg, the senior Tory who first raised the issue and chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, praised Ghani's courage in speaking out.
He said: "Nus is very brave to speak out. I was truly appalled to learn of her experience. She shows such strength and integrity supporting others.
"I am proud to have her as my friend and colleague. We must change things for the better."
Wragg will be meeting a Scotland Yard detective in the House of Commons early next week to discuss his own claims.
He told The Daily Telegraph he would outline "several" examples of bullying and intimidation, in some cases involving public money.
Fellow Tory MP and former minister Steve Baker also described Ghani's treatment as "completely intolerable" and suggested her claims be investigated further.
He tweeted: "I value Nus Ghani as a great colleague and I'm appalled. We must get to the bottom of it."
Cabinet Minister Nadhim Zahawi and senior Tory MP Tom Tugendhadt also backed Ms Ghani on Twitter, with Mr Zahawi calling for an inquiry on the matter.
Mirror Online has contacted No10 for comment.
