• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Mark Spencer made Commons Leader despite Islamophobia allegations

Labour said Spencer's appointment to a position overseeing parliamentary standards was "inappropriate".

Henry Goodwin by Henry Goodwin
2022-02-08 15:35
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Boris Johnson has carried out a limited reshuffle as he seeks to secure his position in No 10 in the face of the Partygate row and mounting Tory discontent.

One of the major changes sees Mark Spencer move from chief whip to Commons Leader, replacing Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Spencer – the “big farmer”, as the Johnson jokingly refers to him – has paid the price for a series of missteps in managing the parliamentary party.

He played a leading role in trying to get Tory MPs to support a shake-up of Commons sleaze rules in an attempt to spare Owen Paterson from being suspended, incurring their wrath when the controversial plan was subsequently abandoned.

He also failed to prevent a revolt by 100 Tories over Covid rules and faced claims – which he has denied – that he told MP Nusrat Ghani she lost her ministerial role because her Muslim faith made people feel uncomfortable.

And Spencer’s recent altercation with Ghani has reportedly left some MPs concerned that he has been handed a promotion despite being under investigation over the Tory MP’s claims.

Some MPs deeply concerned that Mark Spencer has been made leader of House when he is under investigation for what happened to Nus Ghani, having confirmed himself online that he was subject of her claims, altho denied them

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) February 8, 2022

‘Humiliated and powerless’

The whips office over which Spencer presided was also recently referred to the policy by Tory MP William Wragg, who accused the government of intimidatory tactics.

RelatedPosts

‘As bad as the pandemic’: Martin Lewis sounds energy bills alarm

Energy giants to hand shareholders bumper £10 BILLION payout

‘Gordon Brown is clearly right’: Ex-PM hailed for cost of living plan

The lady IS for turning: Truss hints at energy bill about-face

In an interview with The Sunday Times last month, Ghani said she was told that her “Muslimness” had been raised at a Downing Street meeting.“It was like being punched in the stomach. I felt humiliated and powerless,” she said.

“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’.

“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.”

‘Completely inappropriate’

Spencer subsequently identified himself as the whip in question, saying: “To ensure other whips are not drawn into this matter, I am identifying myself as the person Nusrat Ghani MP has made claims about this evening.

“These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me.

“It is disappointing that when this issue was raised before Ms Ghani declined to refer the matter to the Conservative Party for a formal investigation.”

He added: “These claims relate to a meeting in March 2020. When Ms Ghani raised them she was invited to use the formal CCHQ complaints procedure. She declined to do so.”

The new leader of the House, Mark Spencer, is currently being investigated for comments to @Nus_Ghani and his whips office have been reported to police by @William_Wragg

Shadow leader Thangam Debbonaire tells @guardian –
“It is completely inappropriate."

— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) February 8, 2022

The Commons Leader has a key role of upholding standards in Parliament, a position for which Labour said Spencer is “completely inappropriate”.

Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow leader of the House, told the Guardian that Spencer “has been publicly accused of blackmail and threatening to withdraw investments… unless MPs toe the line.

“This is just the latest in a long line of appointments that demonstrates this Government’s complete disregard for standards in politics.”

Related: Reaction as Jacob Rees-Mogg made Minister for Brexit Opportunities

Tags: Boris JohnsonMark Spencer

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Britain’s train operators offer free travel for Ukrainian arrivals

The return of the London gentleman

Johnson eager for beaver as a dream weaver for the deluded Leaver 

Brexit blamed for ‘stark’ fall in numbers of EU students at Oxford

Speaker Pelosi says there’s “no chance” of US-UK trade deal if Brexit undermines Good Friday Agreement

The Weekly Cocktail Recipe: Cartel’s ‘Tommy’s Margarita’

Football hooligan convicted of attacking Guardian columnist Owen Jones over political views

Majority of Labour members back second referendum vote

‘I will not be silenced:’ Woman arrested at Sarah Everard vigil preparing for legal action against Met

Set For Life Results for Monday 8 August 2022 Tonight’s winning numbers

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.