Conservative Chairman Brandon Lewis is facing renewed criticism of his handling of Islamophobia complaints, after leaked emails raised questions over his claim that the party had been taking "swift action" on the issue.

According to emails obtained by Buzzfeed News, a "party official" contacted Mr Lewis and the complaints department last October asking them to investigate whether party members were among the subscribers of a Facebook group where Islamophobic posts were being shared.

A follow-up email appears to have been sent in November, but according to Buzzfeed, no action followed until the website contacted the party with screenshots earlier this week, resulting in 14 members being suspended.

The name of the group was "Jacob Rees-Mogg Supporters", but has no formal links or connection to the Conservative MP.

Mr Lewis claimed the suspensions showed the party was taking "swift action" to deal with complaints, and wrote to all constituency chairmen and council group leaders underlining what he said would be a "zero tolerance" approach to any forms of discrimination or abuse.


However, in response to the leaked emails, the Muslim Council of Britain has said that claim has become "untenable".

The group's spokesman, Miqdaad Versi said: "Now we know he had been sitting on this information for months and only acted when there was media attention - his claim is now untenable."

Brandon Lewis has yet to comment on the leaked emails, but in a statement a Conservative Party spokesperson said: "The party investigates all complaints in a timely and confidential manner in line with our complaints procedure."

Party sources suggested the emails had been responded to, but requests for further information to be provided, such as screenshots, did not receive a response.

The explanation was dismissed by former Tory cabinet minister Baroness Warsi, who has become the most prominent critic of her party's handling of Islamophobia.

Image: Former cabinet minister Baroness Warsi said 'bureaucracy has become an excuse for inaction'

She told Sky News : "Bureaucracy has become an excuse for inaction. This is why I keep saying the party has an institutional problem."

Earlier this week the baroness demanded the prime minister instigate an independent inquiry into the extent of Islamphobia in the Conservative Party.

Another Tory peer, Lord Sheikh, is also understood to have written to Theresa May making the same request.

Over the course of the last week a number of Conservative figures have been suspended from the party or resigned.

The Conservative leader of Swale Borough Council was suspended on Tuesday in relation to sharing a post defending activist Tommy Robinson.

Two councillors from East Staffordshire quit the party after facing criticism for sharing and liking a post that showed London Mayor Sadiq Khan being beheaded by the Queen.

A local election candidate in Harlow also resigned after posting anti-Muslim comments on social media.

On Thursday a councillor in Ashfield was re-suspended having previously been reinstated following an investigation into alleged Islamophobic social media activity.