What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Boris Johnson's official Facebook page hosts hundreds of Islamophobic messages, it was reported last night.

Followers posted calls to ban Islam, deport Muslims and "vile" attacks on London mayor Sadiq Khan under posts on his page promoting the ex-Foreign Secretary's speeches and articles, according to the Sunday Times.

A source close to the former foreign secretary said he "totally condemns" the "hateful" views posted by a small minority of respondents.

Mr Johnson is currently facing an internal Conservative Party investigation after he likened women who wear the Muslim full face veil to "bank robbers" and "letterboxes".

The posts on his Facebook page are understood to include calls for "no Muslims in government, police or army".

One reportedly reads: "That's crazy to trust them. They are just waiting for the Jihad sign to turn on us. #islamophobicandproud."

Another says: "Come on Boris, you had the bottle to start getting rid of these bloody muslims, just like Enoch [Powell] wanted to rid us of all yer bloody c**ns!”

(Image: SWNS- Cambridge)

(Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

A source close to Mr Johnson said: "Mr Johnson totally condemns the hateful views posted by a small minority on these Facebook pages, brought to light by The Sunday Times.

"However it is ridiculous to attack Mr Johnson for comments made by individuals on social media when even the official website and Facebook page of the Times and Sunday Times host racist and Islamophobic messages from page visitors."

Allies of the former foreign secretary indicated that, to date, his team had not "censored" comments on his Facebook page - including those attacking him - as he believed in free speech and that people should be able to contact their elected representatives easily.

They pointed out that Facebook was responsible for moderating Facebook pages, with a staff of 15,000 to investigate and remove offensive postings.

While Mr Johnson has yet to comment publicly on the furore over his Telegraph article, his supporters have made clear he did not accept his comments were Islamophobic and he would not be apologising.

Miqdaad Versi, a spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "It is deeply worrying to see an increase in Islamophobia following Boris Johnson's comments on the burqa. This confirms what was expected - his comments have consequences.

"It is imperative that he is held accountable for his comments and there is no whitewash of the investigation just because of his position.

"His comments have unleashed hatred in a way that has shone a light on the simmering underbelly of Islamophobia within sections of the Conservative Party" "Such Islamophobia in apparent support for Boris Johnson adds to the wealth of evidence of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.

"There needs to be a transparent and Independnet inquiry to sort this out - once and for all."