A TORY MP has had the whip suspended and has been sacked from his ministerial role after concerns were raised over his behaviour at the Conservative Party conference, reports say.
Speaking to The Sun, Conor Burns said that “he will fully cooperate with the investigation and looks forward to clearing his name.”
Burns has been asked by Liz Truss to stand down from his position as trade minister with "immediate effect".
A No 10 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.”
A spokesman for the Whips’ Office said: “We have suspended the whip pending [an] 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 50-year-old MP for Bournemouth West will now face a party probe.
Burns has held his constituency seat since 2010 and was a close ally of Boris Johnson while he was Prime Minister.
The reports of his behaviour stem from the Tory Party conference in Birmingham from last Sunday to this Wednesday.
In a statement posted on social media, Burns said he had not been given “any information” about the complaint when he was informed the party would be investigating.
He tweeted: “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“On the basis of this complaint Ms Morton told me that the whip was being withdrawn and that I was standing down as trade minister.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 (inquiry) and look forward to clearing my name.
“I hope the party will be as quick to conduct their (inquiry) as they were to rush to judgment.”
The party has had a slew of reports of controversial behaviour over the last year.
Chris Pincher had the whip removed after allegations emerged that he had groped two men in a Piccadilly nightclub – a scandal which sparked Johnson’s resignation as PM.
And Neil Parish resigned after it emerged that he been watching pornography in the House of Commons.
A separate Tory MP, who has remained anonymous, is currently on bail from the Metropolitan Police for allegations of rape.
