The Conservative Party chairman has been accused of trying to "kneecap" Boris Johnson after it emerged that the former Foreign Secretary is being investigated for his comments about burkas.

Mr Johnson is refusing to apologise for a comment piece in the Telegraph in which he compared women wearing burkas to "letterboxes" and "bank robbers".

The Tories confirmed the party is now examining "numerous" complaints against Mr Johnson and could launch a full investigation into whether his comments represent a breach of the party's code of conduct.

Potential sanctions include removing the whip from Mr Johnson or suspending him as a Tory MP for a period - although party sources stressed that this is unlikely to happen.