Minister denies ‘institutional racism’ in Conservative party as Islamophobia probe launched

Minister denies ‘institutional racism’ in Conservative party as Islamophobia probe launched

The Education secretary has this morning claimed he does not “recognise institutional racism in my party”, following claims a Muslim MP was fired from her ministerial role due to Islamophobia.

Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Breakfast earlier today that he did not feel there was any place for Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.

Following this morning’s reports that Boris Johnson has ordered a Cabinet Office inquiry into Nus Ghani’s allegations, Zahawi insisted that the Prime Minister took her claims seriously.

According to the Sunday Times, when Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani questioned her dismissal from the Department for Transport in 2020, a government whip said her “Muslimness … was making colleagues uncomfortable”.

Conservative Chief Whip Mark Spencer confirmed Ms Ghani was referring to him, but said her claims were completely false and that he considered them to be defamatory.

Ms Ghani is quoted as saying she dropped the matter after being told that if she “persisted” in her questioning she “would be ostracised and her career and reputation would be destroyed”.

This morning’s claims appear to contradict the line given by Justice secretary Dominic Raab, who told Sky News just yestersay that “there will be no specific investigation into this”.