Boris Johnson has admitted an inquiry into a Tory MPs' claim that she lost her job due to her Muslim faith has been kicked down the road.
Former Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani alleged in January that a whip had told her “Muslimness was raised as an issue” and that her “Muslim woman minister status was making colleagues feel uncomfortable”.
Mark Spencer, then-the Chief Whip, later named himself as the minister she spoke to, but he said the claims were "completely false" and "defamatory."
The Prime Minister ordered his ethics chief Lord Geidt to conduct an inquiry into the row but he resigned last month after a string of Government scandals.
Mr Johnson has failed to appoint a successor to Lord Geidt, who was the second independent adviser to quit during the PM's tenure.
He has now said that the inquiry is a matter for his successor - either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss - in a letter to the powerful Commons Liaison Committee.
Mr Johnson told Liaison Committee chair Sir Bernard Jenkin: "This investigation had not been completed by Lord Geidt before his resignation.
"The investigation therefore remains outstanding and should be a matter for the Independent Advisor function, as soon as appointed by my successor."
The probe was still open when Lord Geidt quit but it was understood to be nearing conclusion.
Mr Sunak has committed to hiring a new independent adviser, and told LBC he would probably bring back Lord Geidt if he was prepared to return.
Ms Truss has not set out her position yet.
Mr Spencer, who has since been promoted from Chief Whip to Commons Leader, was challenged by Ms Ghani to his face in the Commons earlier this month.
"As the Leader of the House Continues to have confidence in the Prime Minister, my question requires a simple answer," she said.
"Does the Leader of the House agree with the Prime Minister, that if a complaint is raised against a Member of Parliament, that is so grave that it triggers an investigation, that that Member of Parliament or minister should not be promoted or continue on the front bench."
She repeated: "My question to the Leader of the House is simple - does he agree with the Prime Minister?"
Mr Spencer turned round to her and replied: "I'm not sure how that question's relevant to the business of the House in any way, shape or form, but if she wanted to apply for an adjournment debate on any matter she'd be welcome to."
In January, he identified himself as the subject of her claim, tweeting: "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.
"I provided evidence to the Singh Investigation into Islamophobia which concluded that there was no credible basis for the claims to be included in the report.
"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."
