Angela Rayner's office launches Islamophobia 'cover-up' investigation after key documents deleted

Angela Rayner's department will review its decision to destroy evidence submitted to devise a new Islamophobia definition, a top civil servant has confirmed.

Will Garton, who serves as the interim permanent secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, said officials were being made to "undertake further work" related to the submissions being deleted.

The Whitehall mandarin revealed the department is now conducting an internal review in a letter sent to Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy.

In his letter, Mr Garton said: “Following your correspondence, and a number of further inquiries received by the department relating to the call for evidence, I have asked officials to undertake further work regarding the handling of information associated with that exercise to ensure that the department’s response addresses all relevant issues raised.

“This work does not involve reconsidering the Government’s decision to adopt the definition.

"I can, in the meantime, continue to be clear that ministers were not involved in operational decisions relating to the handling or retention of the dataset.

“As ministers have set out previously, the definition is non-statutory and does not alter existing protections for freedom of expression.

"It was adopted in response to the significant rise in anti-Muslim hostility the Government is committed to addressing."

Mr Timothy, who had warned creating an official Islamophobia definition risks constraining free speech, put pressure on the department after

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