Tory minister FIRED over ‘lecherous behaviour’ claim at conference this week

TORY MP Conor Burns has been fired as a minister and had the whip suspended following complaints about his “serious misconduct” at this week’s party conference.

The sacked trade minister exclusively told the Sun that he will “fully cooperate with the investigation and looks forward to clearing his name.”

Downing St this afternoon confirmed Liz Truss has axed Mr Burns from the government “with immediate effect”.

The Sun understands a witness complained to party officials about Mr Burns’ alleged “lecherous behaviour” toward a younger man.

Mr Burns last night said he received a call from Chief Whip Wendy Morton informing him of his suspension.

In a series of tweets he said: “I was not given any information about the complaint nor was I asked to provide any information…

“I hope the party will be as quick to conduct their enquiry as they were to rush to judgement.”

A No10 spokesperson said: “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.”

Ms Morton has also stripped the whip from Mr Burns, 50, meaning he now sits as an independent MP pending a probe.

A whips office spokesman said: “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.”

The Conservatives’ annual conference took place in Birmingham from last Sunday to this Wednesday.

Mr Burns has been the MP for Bournemouth West since 2010 and was a close ally of Boris Johnson during his premiership.

In 2020 he resigned as a trade minister after a parliamentary watchdog ruled he used his position to “intimidate a member of the public”.

Today’s are the latest allegations to rock the Conservative Party following a string of scandals.

Earlier this year the Tories stripped the whip from Chris Pincher after the Sun revealed allegations he drunkenly groped two men in a club.

Another anonymous Tory MP is currently on bail by the Met Police for allegations of rape.

Separately Tory MP Neil Parish resigned after the Sun revealed he had watched porn in the House of Commons.