Tory MP Conor Burns has accused his party of rushing to judgment after being suspended by the Conservatives and sacked from his job as a trade minister for alleged “inappropriate behaviour”.
Burns said he will “fully co-operate” after having the whip removed, which means he has been suspended from the parliamentary party.
A spokesperson for the Conservatives said on Friday afternoon: “We have suspended the whip pending investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour earlier this week.
“We take all such allegations extremely seriously. The prime minister has been clear that the highest standards in public life must be upheld.”
Burns was appointed as a minister in the department for international trade by Liz Truss when she took office in early September.
A No.10 spokesperson said he had now been removed from that post. “Following a complaint of serious misconduct, the prime minister has asked Conor Burns MP to leave the government with immediate effect.
“The prime minister took direct action on being informed of this allegation and is clear that all ministers should maintain the high standards of behaviour – as the public rightly expects.”
According to The Sun – which first reported the story – it followed complaints about Burns’ behaviour at this week’s Conservative Party’ conference.
Burns, who has been the MP for Bournemouth West since 2010, was a close ally of Boris Johnson.
The 50-year-old responded in a series of tweets.
He said: “Earlier I received a call from the chief whip Wendy Morton.
“Ms Morton informed me that a complaint had been received about me and she had passed it to Conservative campaign headquarters to investigate. I was not given any information about the complaint nor was I asked to provide any information.
“On the basis of this complaint Ms Morton told me that the Whip was being withdrawn and that I was standing down as trade minister. I will fully cooperate with the party’s enquiry and look forward to clearing my name.
“I hope the party will be as quick to conduct their enquiry as they were to rush to judgement.”