Rishi Sunak’s ethics adviser takes over investigation into alleged Islamophobia

Sir Laurie Magnus to probe claims by MP who said her ‘Muslimness’ was brought up as a reason why she was sacked

Rishi Sunak’s ethics adviser has taken over an investigation into alleged Islamophobia in the Conservative Party following claims by an MP that her faith was given as a reason why she was sacked as a minister.

Sir Laurie Magnus, appointed by the prime minister in December, will look into claims by former transport minister Nusrat Ghani that party whips told her that her “Muslimess had been making colleagues feel uncomfortable”.

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