Update to this story.
Boris Johnson could be sent on ‘diversity training’ instead of being sanctioned by the Conservative Party after he compared the appearance of women wearing the Islamic face veil to “letterboxes” and “robbers”.
Senior Tories have reportedly told the centre-right Telegraph that the leading Brexiteer will likely not have the whip removed (be suspended from the party), but may attend training should a formal investigation find the former foreign secretary had breached the party’s “code of conduct”.The launching of the initial investigation prompted a backlash from Johnson’s supporters within the party, with criticisms directed at party chairman Brandon Lewis.
Former Remain campaigner Lewis was accused of attempting to “kneecap” the Brexiteer to prevent him from taking over from former Remain campaigner Theresa May as party leader and Prime Minister.