THE PRIME Minister has ordered an inquiry into claims made by a Muslim MP that she was demoted as a minister because of concerns over her faith.

Boris Johnson has asked for civil servants to “establish the facts” regarding the claims of Islamophobia made by former minister and Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani.

According to the Sunday Times, Ms Ghani said that a government whip said her "Muslimness was raised as an issue".

Conservative chief whip Mark Spencer says the claims are "completely false", and considered her allegations "defamatory".

A No 10 spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Office to conduct an inquiry into the allegations made by Nusrat Ghani MP.

"At the time these allegations were first made, the Prime Minister recommended to her that she make a formal complain to CCHQ (Conservative Campaign Headquarters).

"She did not take up this offer.

"The Prime Minister has now asked officials to establish the facts about what happened.

"As he said at the time, the Prime Minister takes these claims very seriously."

In a statement posted on social media, Nusrat Ghani welcomed the decision to launch an inquiry into her claims.

She said: "As I said to the Prime Minister last night all I want is for this to be taken seriously and for him to investigate.

"I welcome his decision to do that now.

"The terms of reference of the inquiry must include all that was said in Downing Street and by the whip.

"I look forward to seeing the terms of reference."

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi - the first Muslim woman to attend Cabinet - said that Ms Ghani's experience had been "an open secret n Westminster".

She said: "This was someone who was a government minister who was told that her job came to an end because of a protected characteristic - that is actually against the law".

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