Ex-minister abandons hope of Tory Islamophobia probe promised by Boris Johnson

Former Transport minister Nusrat Ghani has abandoned hope of a Tory Islamophobia probe promised by Boris Johnson.

The MP for Wealden, 49, said: “I have tried to progress this but it’s clear nothing is going to happen.”

The former charity worker says she was told her “Muslimness” was one reason she was fired from her post in 2020.

She said a Tory whip had told her that her faith made colleagues uncomfortable.

Then Tory chief whip Mark Spencer, now Commons leader, admitted having a conversation with Ms Ghani but denied he said anything of the sort.

But the PM agreed to hold an inquiry led by his ethics adviser Lord Geidt.

But before it could be finished Lord Geidt quit after expressing unhappiness about the way Mr Johnson handled the row over No10 lockdown parties.

He was Mr Johnson’s second adviser to go after Sir Alex Allan resigned in 2020 when his finding that Home Secretary Priti Patel had bullied civil servants was ignored.

Now the PM has washed his hands of the whole Islamophobia affair and dumped the problem on his successor – either ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak or Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

Ms Ghani, a Truss supporter, would not say which, if either, she thought might take up the baton on her behalf even though Mr Sunak said he would ask Lord Geidt to return to the role if he wins the keys to No10.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis said: “This investigation had not been completed by Lord Geidt prior to his resignation. It, therefore, remains outstanding.

“The PM has taken the decision the investigation should be a matter for a new independent adviser as soon as appointed by his successor:”

Ms Ghani claims she was told that if she persisted with the matter she “would be ostracised and her career and reputation would be destroyed”.

But both Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and then Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Ms Ghani’s complaints should be looked at.

She was the first Muslim minister to speak in Parliament.