Laurie Magnus, the independent ethics adviser to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, released a report on Thursday stating that he found no clear evidence to support

allegations of Islamophobia made by former junior transport minister Nusrat Ghani. Ghani, who is Muslim, claimed last year that her faith was a factor in her sacking from her ministerial job in February 2020. She alleged that a whip had told her that her faith was making colleagues uncomfortable.

In response to Ghani's allegations, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered an inquiry in January 2022. Magnus, who was tasked with investigating the claims, stated that Ghani's concerns were "very serious" but that he was unable to determine exactly what transpired in meetings between Ghani and the government's then-chief whip Mark Spencer. Magnus received conflicting evidence from both Ghani and Spencer, and there was no evidence to suggest that negative comments about Ghani's faith were made.

Magnus stated that, in the absence of clear evidence, it would not be appropriate to take further action. Sunak concurred, writing in a reply to Magnus that "In the absence of clear evidence, it would not be right to take further action." The Conservative Party has been accused of Islamophobia in the past, and a report in 2021 criticized the party's handling of complaints of discrimination against Muslims.

Ghani said that Magnus's report showed her evidence had been consistent and that there was no criticism expressed about her version of the events. She stated, "We all serve at the Prime Minister's choosing, and there is no shame in a political career ending. But to be told your faith and identity is the reason for it cannot be acceptable in any way."

Spencer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both he and Ghani are currently ministers in Sunak's government. Photo by uk government, Wikimedia commons.