STATEMENT
When the Prime Minister told me he wanted me to leave my government post in the February 2020 reshuffle I was surprised but understood that it was a fact of politics.
At the post reshuffle meeting with the Whips I asked what the thinking was behind the decision to fire me and what the mood music was when my name was mentioned in No. 10 concerning the reshuffle.
I was told that at the reshuffle meeting in Downing Street that 'Muslimness' was raised as an 'issue', that my 'Muslim women minister' status was making colleagues uncomfortable and that there were concerns 'that I wasn't loyal to the party as I didn't do enough to defend the party against Islamophobia allegations'.
I was so shocked it took my breath away, it was like being punched in the stomach. I felt humiliated and powerless.
When I challenged whether this was in any way acceptable and made clear there was little I could do about my identity, I had to listen to a monologue on how hard it was to define when people are being racist and that the party doesn't have a problem and I needed to do more to defend it.
It was very clear to me that the Whips and No. 10 were holding me to a higher threshold of loyalty than others because of my background and faith.
A few weeks later, after I had composed myself, I had a further conversation with a senior member of the Whips Office. In this second meeting I was again told there was no Islamophobia in the party and, as if to add to the issue they had with me I was told that I was in fact fired for apparently saying to the PM that we had a 'women problem' (attracting female voters).
In the following weeks, I was informed that if I persisted in raising the that I would be ostracised by colleagues and my career and reputation would be destroyed.
The feeling of isolation and powerlessness after this episode would not leave me and I raised it several more times through official party channels and with some colleagues. However, after the threats from Whips, I was extremely careful to follow procedure and when the procedure ran out of road I had no choice but to get on with my career and make a difference for my constituents and for the issues I care about from the backbenches.
I will not pretend that this hasn't shaken my faith in the party and I have at times seriously considered whether to continue as an MP. However, I will not let them win and force me out of politics. I have also been concerned at the consequences of this coming out for my security and that of my family, but I always knew there would be a time when I had to explain what happened to me.
I also have an obligation to my party not to bury this incident. As one colleague reflected, 'if you are too Muslim, then we are all stuffed.' My party is bigger and better than this and this whole sorry episode has only been bearable due to the steadfast support of colleagues.
Nusrat Ghani MP - 22 January 2022
