LBCI

UK lawmaker says she was fired from ministerial job for her 'Muslimness'

Middle East

23-01-2022 | 09:32

Share

Share

UK lawmaker says she was fired from ministerial job for her 'Muslimness'

2^min

A British lawmaker has said she was fired from a ministerial job in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government partly because her Muslim faith was making colleagues uncomfortable, the Sunday Times reported.

The allegation added to the turmoil Johnson's government is facing over parties held at his Downing Street office during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Nusrat Ghani, 49, who lost her job as a junior transport minister in February 2020, told the paper that she had been told by a "whip" - an enforcer of parliamentary discipline - that her "Muslimness" had been raised as an issue in her sacking.

The government's chief whip, Mark Spencer, said he was the person at the center of Ghani's allegations.

"These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory," he said on Twitter. "I have never used those words attributed to me."

Johnson met Ghani to discuss the "extremely serious" claims in July 2020, a spokesperson from the prime minister's office said on Sunday.

"He then wrote to her expressing his serious concern and inviting her to begin a formal complaint process," the spokesperson said. "She did not subsequently do so."

"The Conservative Party does not tolerate prejudice or discrimination of any kind."

Ghani's remarks come after one of her Conservative colleagues said he would meet police to discuss accusations that government whips had attempted to "blackmail" lawmakers suspected of trying to force Johnson from office over the lockdown parties.

The scandals have drained public support from both Johnson personally and his party, presenting him with the most serious crisis of his premiership.

REUTERS

Breaking Headlines

UK

Lawmaker

Ministerial

Job

Muslim

British

Colleagues

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Mass rally in Tehran for funerals of security force personnel killed in protests: State TV

Middle East News

2026-01-14

Mass rally in Tehran for funerals of security force personnel killed in protests: State TV

Israel signals Lebanon as main front as Washington talks approach

News Bulletin Reports

2026-04-13

Israel signals Lebanon as main front as Washington talks approach

Axios: Lebanese-Israeli talks conclude after more than two hours

2026-04-14

Axios: Lebanese-Israeli talks conclude after more than two hours

Israel army issues evacuation order for 29 south Lebanon villages

2026-06-14

Israel army issues evacuation order for 29 south Lebanon villages

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

LBCI sources: Lebanon to hand former Syrian General Adel Issa to Syrian judiciary

1

LBCI sources: Lebanon to hand former Syrian General Adel Issa to Syrian judiciary

Rain in August? Sudden weather shift surprises Lebanon: Video

2

Rain in August? Sudden weather shift surprises Lebanon: Video

Walla: Israeli military strikes Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon

3

Walla: Israeli military strikes Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon

Wanted for war crimes: Why was retired Syrian Gen. Adel Issa detained in Beirut?

4

Wanted for war crimes: Why was retired Syrian Gen. Adel Issa detained in Beirut?

Diplomacy vs. escalation: Southern Lebanon enters a critical new phase

5

Diplomacy vs. escalation: Southern Lebanon enters a critical new phase

Human Rights Watch urges UN to maintain peacekeeping force in South Lebanon

6

Human Rights Watch urges UN to maintain peacekeeping force in South Lebanon

Etna eruption extends closure of Sicily's Catania airport until Saturday

7

Etna eruption extends closure of Sicily's Catania airport until Saturday

Waste crisis or new tax? Lebanon’s environmental fee raises questions

8

Waste crisis or new tax? Lebanon’s environmental fee raises questions

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More