Inside Politics: Islamophobia claim rocks Tories as PM fights for life over partygate

This week is going to be another huge one in Westminster as all attention turns to the publication of Sue Gray’s investigation into Downing Street drinks gatherings and alleged rule-breaking during Covid restrictions. The findings of the senior civil servant’s probe are expected to come out in the next few days and could well decide Boris Johnson’s fate. Already hanging onto No 10 by his fingertips, the prime minister has been forced to launch an official inquiry after an MP claimed she was sacked from a ministerial post because of her “Muslimness”. Elsewhere, reports say the Foreign Office has begun to remove staff from the British embassy in Ukraine as Russia moves closer to invading its neighbour.

Commons action kicks off at 2.30pm with levelling up questions to Michael Gove and his junior ministers. After that comes any post-weekend urgent questions followed by an SNP opposition day debate on the cost of living crisis. Later, MPs will go through the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill. Labour’s Darren Jones has an adjournment debate on access to NHS dentistry services in Bristol and the South West.

Coming up:

– Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi on BBC Radio 4 Today at 8.10am

– Labour chair Anneliese Dodds on Times Radio Breakfast at 8.35am

ISLAMOPHOBIA CLAIMS: At least two cabinet ministers have now called for an investigation after a Muslim Tory MP claimed she was sacked from her ministerial job because her faith was making colleagues “feel uncomfortable. Nusrat Ghani, the East Sussex MP, made the allegations in an explosive interview on Sunday. She says a conservation between her and a party whip (Mark Spencer outed himself as the whip in question in a now deleted tweet) took place during Johnson’s 2020 mini-reshuffle when she was axed from her transport minister job. Ghani said she met with the PM after the alleged incident took place and accused him of failing to take the allegation “seriously”.

‘VERY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS’: No 10 confirmed the meeting took place, saying Ghani was encouraged to make a complaint but did “not subsequently do so”. In an updated statement after the story first broke, Ghani said Johnson wrote her a letter saying he could “not get involved” in the issue and referred her to the Conservative Party’s complaints process, in a revelation that is likely to raise more and serious questions about Johnson’s judgement as he fights for his political life this week over the partygate scandal. Sajid Javid, the health secretary, joined his colleague Nadhim Zahwai (education) in calling for an investigation into the “very serious” allegations. It has been announced in the past hour that Johnson has ordered the Cabinet Office to launch an official inquiry into the claims.

WEEK OF RECKONING?: No 10 is facing increasing pressure to publish the full contents of Gray’s long-awaited and delayed investigation into Downing Street drinks gatherings, which is expected to be published in the next few days, although nobody seems able to say with any confidence whether or not it will actually emerge by the week’s end. Over the weekend and today, new details have emerged about the probe itself and what went down at some of the gatherings in question. In another story that is likely to raise fresh questions about the integrity of the investigation, three officials working in No 10 claim they have held back information Gray due to a “culture of fear” surrounding the probe. We’ll have all today’s action on our liveblog which can be found here.

‘EXTREMELY DAMAGING’: Three sources told The Independent they have not divulged messages and pictures on their phones after a senior member of staff told them to remove anything that could fuel speculation in the wake of the first party revelations. No 10’s response? Any allegation suggesting staff were pressured into not providing information is “entirely false”. Given No 10’s handling of the partygate scandal so far, readers may be forgiven for taking this response with a pinch of salt. The Telegraph reports this morning that police officers who guarded Downing Street have been interviewed as part of Gray’s probe and that they have given “extremely damaging” statements. William Wragg, the Tory MP and committee chair who first made incendiary claims that his colleagues had been blackmailed into supporting the government, is expected to speak to Scotland Yard today about the allegations. Meanwhile, reports say Dominic Cummings, the PM’s former chief aide, will speak to the Gray investigation.

UKRAINE LATEST: Away from domestic headaches, ministers are also having to contend with the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine as Vladimir Putin’s troops continue travelling in large numbers towards the border between the two countries amid fears of war. But Dominic Raab, the justice secretary, insisted it is “extremely unlikely” that UK soldiers will be sent to Ukraine. He did, however, stress that there will be “severe economic consequences” for the Kremlin if Moscow presses ahead with an invasion. The deputy prime minister also assessed the threat of an incursion by Russian forces as “very significant”, as he urged Putin to “step back from the brink”. The UK Foreign Office has begun to remove staff from the British embassy in Ukraine. The Times front page reports on fears that Russia could weaponise gas supplies if it doesn’t get its way in the stand-off with the West.

“Staff were given clear guidance to retain any relevant information. As set out in the terms of reference, all staff are expected to fully cooperate with the investigation. Any suggestion otherwise is entirely false.”

No 10 spokesperson denies claims culture of fear is obstructing Gray investigation.

“It might raise eyebrows again that police are giving evidence to Sue Gray… but not investigating the allegations themselves.”

ITV UK editor Paul Brand on reports police are being interviewed.

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