Reopen inquiry into claims of Islamophobia in Tory party, new chair urged

Exclusive: Labour calls on Greg Hands to bring forward Islamophobia probe following appointment of government’s independent ethics adviser

New Conservative chairman Greg Hands has been urged to reopen an investigation into alleged Islamophobia in his party following claims by an MP that she was sacked as a minister because of her faith.

Nusrat Ghani, the MP for Wealden in East Sussex, claimed she was told by party whips that she was removed as transport minister during a 2020 reshuffle because her “Muslimness” had been “making colleagues uncomfortable”.

Mark Spencer, chief whip at the time, rejected the claims and described them as “completely false” and “defamatory”.