Boris Johnson blasts ‘attack on free speech’ as Theresa May and top Tories demand apology over burka jibe

AN ugly new Tory war exploded last night as Boris Johnson refused a direct order to apologise for his controversial burka insults.

In a very public slap down, party chairman Brandon Lewis issued the demand on Twitter.

But the former Foreign Secretary retaliated to brand it “ridiculous” and an attack on free speech.

The row erupted after Mr Johnson described burkas as “weird” and said women wearing them looked like letter-boxes and bank robbers in a newspaper column on Monday.

Mr Lewis acted after Boris refused to reply to his messages on Monday night and again on Tuesday morning, The Sun has learned.

Tory leader Theresa May also heaped pressure on backbencher Mr Johnson by swiftly backing the apology demand.

The PM insisted that Boris’s words  “obviously have offended”.

Mrs May added: “It is very clear that anybody who is talking about this needs to think very carefully about the language they use.

“So I agree with Brandon Lewis.”

As supporters of the warring two Tory grandees took the barricades over the stand off ast night, Boris fought back with a source close to him saying: “It is ridiculous that these views are being attacked - we must not fall into the trap of shutting down the debate on difficult issues.

“We have to call it out. If we fail to speak up for liberal values then we are simply yielding ground to reactionaries and extremists.”

The Brexit chief’s allies also piled in to accuse Mr Lewis – who is also seen as a potential future Tory leader - of carrying out a hatchet job to discredit Boris.

A senior Tory MP close to Boris attacked Mr Lewis by branding him “Mr Windrush” and claiming he only acted because of “his own ambitions”.

Eurosceptic MP Andrew Bridgen slammed the Tory chairman and accused him of “indulging in Boris bashing”.

And he sparked fresh uproar by saying he was “uncomfortable” speaking to a woman wearing a burkha as he cannot see their reaction.

Another ally, Tory MP Nadine Dorries said it was the the government who should apologise, adding: “No woman in a liberal, progressive society should be forced to cover up her beauty or her bruises. Boris didn’t go far enough”.

Senior Tories are very concerned that the row will be toxic only further alienate Muslim voters.

Source close to Mr Lewis told The Sun: “Having a debate is good, but insults are just silly and wrong.

“He needs to just apologise and accept it was a silly thing to say.”

Another potential leadership candidate also entered the fray to attack Boris last night.
Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said Mr Lewis had “done the right thing” with the apology demand.

In his Daily Telegraph column, Boris also said he didn’t back a ban on the burka being worn in public, as exists in France, Germany, Belgium, Austria and most recently Denmark.

But pro-EU Tory Paul Masterton ridiculed Boris Johnson’s defence that criticising his views was shutting down debate.

Taking to Twitter the MP said: “No one is shutting down debate.

“They are pointing out it’s possible to argue for empowerment and religious freedom of women and girls… without mocking women who do wear one for their appearance.”