Tory minister Mark Spencer avoids punishment over Islamophobia allegations

[ad_1]

Rishi Sunak has said he will take no further action against Tory minister Mark Spencer after he was cleared of Islamophobia.

Spencer was investigated by the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, over accusations by fellow Tory MP Nusrat Ghani.

Ghani claimed that in 2020 Spencer, the then chief whip, told her she was being sacked as minister in part because of concerns about her “Muslimness”.

Spencer is currently Minister of the Environment.

In a letter to Sunak published Thursday, Magnus said that due to Ghani and Spencer’s competing memories of a March 4, 2020 meeting, it was “not possible” to conclude what was said.

But Magnus slammed Spencer for his ‘shortcomings’ over the incident and warned he ‘should have been more careful’ when he told then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the complaint.

Sunak said it was “fair and proper that this very serious matter should be rigorously investigated.”

“I take seriously the need to treat others with respect and avoid any suggestion of prejudice,” he said.

“But in the absence of clear evidence, it would not be fair to take further action.”

Ghani, who is now business minister, said Magnus’ report showed there was “no criticism or doubt expressed about my version of events”.

“We all serve at the prime minister’s choice and there is no shame in ending a political career,” she said.

“But being told that your faith and your identity is the reason for it cannot be acceptable in any way.

“The impact of learning of this was devastating and my motivation for pursuing the complaint was to ensure it was not buried, but ended with me so that no other co-workers had to. endure something similar.”

[ad_2]