Top Tories put pressure on Johnson to apologise for his burka remarks
is mounting on Boris Johnson to back down over his controversial comments about women in burkas as senior Conservative figures lined up to call for an apology.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright and Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Tories, were among those who said his remarks in his Daily Telegraph column had crossed a line.
But supporters of the former Foreign Secretary (right) claimed he was being targeted in an attempt to ward off a possible leadership challenge in the autumn.
Mr Johnson, who is on holison day abroad, has not been seen in public since his article in which he said women wearing the Muslim face veil looked like “letterboxes” and “bank robbers”.
However, sources close to him have made clear he stood by the article in which he argued against a burka ban of the kind adopted by some European countries.
Some in the party saw the stand-off as a continuation of the ongoing struggle over Brexit following Mr Johnson’s resignation last month over Theresa May’s Chequers plan.
Tory backbencher Nadine Dorries said the attacks were being led by those on the Remain wing who feared a possible leadership challenge.
“The campaign to stop Boris becoming leader is under way in a very crass and cack-handed way,” she wrote on Twitter.
However, former Conservative chairman Lord Pickles warned Mr Johnson could face disciplinary action.
He said the party has “various procedures” if an official complaint were to be made, although he said it would be “a very big leap” to suggest that could lead to his expulsion.
“Pretty much inconceivable, but you never know how these things develop,” he told BBC Radio 4.
Meanwhile, the founder and president of the Conservative Muslim Forum, Lord Sheikh, stepped up his demands for the whip to be withdrawn.
He said he had written to party chairman Brandon Lewis calling for “severe action” to be taken against Mr JohnPRESSURE over his comments.
“I think, to a certain extent, they’re racist. In a way, it is racist. These words are very inflammatory,” he told Sky News.
After Mrs May backed calls on Tuesday for Mr Johnson to apologise, Mr Wright said that while important issues such as the wearing of burkas were discussed publicly, politicians needed to choose their language with care.
Ms Davidson went further, saying Mr Johnson’s comments had been “gratuitously offensive” and that he needed to apologise.
Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who has in past clashed with Mr Johnson over Brexit, said his comments were “very embarrassing”. away some of the many flowers and keepsakes left by NHS colleagues, neighbours and members of the public.
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