THE Scottish Conservatives have suspended their candidate in Glasgow Central over alleged Islamophobia.

The party said it had withdrawn its support from Flora Scarabello pending an internal investigation into “the alleged use of anti-Muslim language”.

It is understood the party received a complaint and a recording of a private conversation involving the candidate on Tuesday.

The SNP said it raised doubts about the Tories' candidate vetting procedure, and said the party must permenantly expel any members found to be bigoted.

Boris Johnson today apologised over Islamophobia in the Conservative Party after the Muslim Council of Britain accused it of failing to do enough to stamp out the problem.

On a visit to Cornwall, the Prime Minister was asked if he apologised for the Islamophobia in the party, and replied: “Of course, and for all the hurt and offence that has been caused - of course we do. And all that is intolerable and it’s so important as a country that we don’t allow that kind of thing and that’s why we’re going to have the independent inquiry.”

It is the second suspension of a Scottish Tory candidate in less than a fortnight.

Ryan Houghton, the party’s candidate in Aberdeen North, was suspended on November 19 over alleged anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and homophobic tweets from seven years ago.

It is too late for Ms Scarabello’s name to be removed from the ballot paper, however she will no longer be supported by the Tories in the campaign.

Her party membership is suspended during the investigation.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “We take allegations like this extremely seriously.

“There is no place in the Scottish Conservatives for anti-Muslim language, or any other form of racial or religious discrimination.

“As such, we have immediately suspended the candidate and the complaint will be thoroughly investigated.”

Glasgow Central is being defended by the SNP’s Alison Thewliss, who won the seat with a majority of 2,267 over Labour, with the Tories coming third on 13.9 per cent of the vote.

Ms Scarabello was a surprise choice as the Conservative candidate, as she had publicly embarrassed Boris Johson during a Tory leadership hustings in Perth.

She asked if a good Prime Minister needed to be a “loyal husband and father”, a reference to Mr Johnson’s serial philandering and children out of wedlock.

Ms Thewliss said: “The Tories must urgently and robustly address the unacceptable racism and discriminatory remarks in the party from the top down.

“It’s no secret that such toxic views are openly held in the Tory party given Boris Johnson has time and time again offended and insulted ethnic minorities and different groups.

“The Scottish Tories are now down by two candidates at this election after the their candidate for Aberdeen North was suspended following anti-Semitic and Islamophobic comments.

“This once again raises very serious questions not just about the Scottish Tories' vetting procedures but also about the type of views that are circulating in the party.

"The Tories must permanently expel these members and take firm action to make sure that they do not consider these views appropriate in public life.”