Investigation clears former chief whip Mark Spencer over sacking of Muslim Tory MP Nusrat Ghani
Rishi Sunak has said no further action will be taken against minister Mark Spencer after a probe could not establish whether he told a female Tory MP she had been sacked because of her Muslim faith.
However, an investigation by the prime minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, identified some “shortcomings” in Mr Spencer’s behaviour towards Ms Ghani.
Ms Ghani said in response to the report that there was “no criticism or doubt expressed regarding my version of events”.
“Others will have to explain the report noting the ‘omissions’, ‘shortcomings’, ‘incomplete information’, ‘inaccurate briefings’ and claims ‘implied without evidence’ in their actions and story,” she said.
Sir Laurie had been investigating claims made by Tory MP Nusrat Ghani that she was sacked as a government minister after her “Muslimness was raised as an issue”.
Ms Ghani, who lost her position in the February 2020 reshuffle, claimed last January that she had been told by a whip, whom she did not identify, that her “Muslim woman minister status was making colleagues feel uncomfortable”.
She also said there were concerns she “wasn’t loyal” to the party because she did not do “enough” to defend it against allegations of Islamophobia.
In the immediate aftermath of Ms Ghani’s comments, Mark Spencer, the former chief whip who is now an environment minister, identified himself as the the whip in question but denied her claims.
He described her allegations as “completely false”, adding: “I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me.”
‘Some shortcomings’
In his investigation into the alleged Islamophobia, Sir Laurie said it was not possible to determine what the then chief whip said to Ms Ghani in two 2020 meetings.
As chief whip Mr Spencer was responsible for enforcing discipline among MPs.
However, Sir Laurie identified “some shortcomings” in how Mr Spencer responded to Ms Ghani’s concerns including that he failed to invite a witness to one of the meetings on 4 March 2020.
He also criticised Mr Spencer for providing Boris Johnson, the then prime minister who vowed to look into Ms Ghani’s claims, with “incomplete” information by failing to mention the meeting on 4 March had taken place – something Mr Spencer has since admitted was an “oversight”.
Sir Laurie said that despite this, he had found “no evidence to suggest that negative comments about Ms Ghani’s faith were either made or had any resonance in the actual discussions that took place in the lead up to and during the government reshuffle in February 2020”.
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Rishi Sunak has said no further action will be taken against Mark Spencer after an investigation cleared him of breaching the rules over the sacking of Nusrat Ghani.
However, he added that it was “not possible to conclude absolutely that such comments were not made” – but again reiterated that had found “no evidence of comments of the nature described by Ms Ghani being attributed in her case”.
“I do not believe, when considered with the inconclusive evidence from the first two parts of this investigation, that the shortcomings identified in Mr Spencer’s response to Ms Ghani’s concerns amount to a clear failure to meet the standards set out in the Ministerial Code.
“However, there are procedural and pastoral lessons to be drawn from this investigation which should be considered by those engaged in handling ministerial appointments and dismissals in future.
“It is important that all those involved are sensitive to the impact of what they say, consider carefully the content of their messaging, including the manner in which it is delivered, and respond promptly and sympathetically to queries or concerns.”
‘Not acceptable in any way’
Ms Ghani said in a statement: “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.
“The impact of being told this was devastating and my motivation in pursuing the complaint was to ensure it wasn’t buried, but that it ended with me so that no other colleague would have to endure anything similar.
“I would like to thank the prime minister and Sir Laurie for publishing the report after three years.
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“As I said last year, my party is better and bigger than this whole sorry episode which has only been bearable due to the support of so many Conservative colleagues.”
Mr Sunak also thanked Sir Laurie for the report but added: “In the absence of clear evidence, it would not be right to take further action.
“I have spoken to both ministers and encouraged them to heed your advice to pull together in the finest tradition of public service.”
Sir Laurie’s investigation puts an end to months of delays after Ms Ghani initially made her claims in January last year.
The delays were caused partly by the resignation of Sir Laurie’s predecessor, Lord Christopher Geidt, in June 2022 over issues relating to partygate.
Mr Johnson was then without an ethics adviser for a number of months until Mr Sunak became prime minister.
Mr Sunak appointed Sir Laurie in December after coming under criticism for delays to the process, and he took over the investigation in February.
Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has met Israel’s prime minister in an effort to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza before the president-elect takes office on 20 January.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed details of the meeting with Steve Witkoff on Saturday, adding that the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency has been deployed to Qatar in order to “advance” talks.
It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Doha for the latest round of indirect discussions between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli official said some progress had been made, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to reach a deal in Gaza.
Ronen Bar (left), director of Israel’s security agency, and David Barnea (right), head of Mossad, at a ceremony marking the 7 October Hamas attack. File pic: Reuters
The mediators are making renewed efforts to halt fighting in Gaza and free the remaining Israeli hostages held there before Mr Trump takes office.
A deal would also involve the release of some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Families of Israeli hostages welcomed Mr Netanyahu’s decision to dispatch the officials, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters describing it as a “historic opportunity”.
Mr Witkoff arrived in Doha on Friday and met the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators received reassurances from Mr Witkoff that the US would continue to work towards a fair deal to end the war soon, Egyptian security sources said, though no further details were released.
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Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed across its borders in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Families of the roughly 100 hostages still held in Gaza are pressing Mr Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring their loved ones home.
Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the area destroyed and gripped by a humanitarian crisis, with most of its population displaced.
Pope Francis has been honoured with America’s highest civilian award by President Joe Biden, who has described the pontiff as “a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world”.
It is the first time Mr Biden, 82, has given the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction during his four years in office.
In a statement, the White House said the award is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours”.
Mr Biden had been scheduled to present the medal to Pope Francis, 88, in person on Saturday in Rome on what was to be the final overseas trip of his presidency. But the president cancelled his visit to monitor the California wildfires.
The White House said Mr Biden bestowed the award during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.
President Joe Biden presented Bono with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Pic: AP
Denzel Washington was also recognised. Pic: AP
Michael J Fox was bestowed with the honour. Pic: AP
The award can be presented with or without distinction.
Mr Biden presented the medal of freedom – without distinction – on 5 January to several people including fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, humanitarian and U2 singer Bono, fashion designer Ralph Lauren and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington.
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Mr Biden himself is a recipient of the award with distinction, recognised when he was vice president by then president Barack Obama in a surprise ceremony eight years ago.
Barack Obama presented Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction in 2017. File pic: AP
The citation for the pope’s honour said his “mission of serving the poor has never ceased”.
“A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths,” it added.
Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
The injured pair are now in Kyiv and communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, he said.
Ukrainian special forces and paratroopers captured the North Koreans, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
“As with all prisoners of war, these two North Korean soldiers are receiving the necessary medical assistance,” he said.
“I have instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to grant journalists access to these prisoners.
“The world needs to know the truth about what is happening.”
Mr Zelenskyy said capturing the soldiers alive was “not easy”. He also claimed Russian and North Korean forces fighting in Kursk have tried to conceal the presence of North Korean soldiers, including by killing wounded comrades on the battlefield to avoid their capture and interrogation by Ukraine.
The post included images of the two men – one with a bandage around his jaw and the other around both hands and wrists – and what appeared to be a Russian military document.
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Ukraine’s security service SBU on Saturday provided further details.
It said one of those detained had no documents at all, while the other had been carrying a Russian military ID card in the name of a man from Tuva, a Russian region bordering Mongolia.
“The prisoners do not speak Ukrainian, English or Russian, so communication with them takes place through Korean translators in cooperation with South Korean intelligence,” a statement said.
One of the soldiers claimed he had been told he was going to Russia for training, rather than to fight against Ukraine, according to the SBU.
The agency added both men are being provided with medical care in line with the Geneva Conventions, and investigated “in cooperation with South Korean intelligence”.
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North Korean regular troops entered the war on Russia’s side in October, according to Ukraine and its Western allies.
US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments suggest up to 12,000 North Korean combat troops have been sent by Pyongyang under a pact with Moscow.
They believe North Korea has also been supplying Russia with vast quantities of artillery shells.
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