UK Trade Minister Conor Burns Sacked Over ‘Serious Misconduct’ Allegation

International trade minister Conor Burns has been sacked from the government following “a complaint of serious misconduct,” Downing Street said on Friday.

Burns was also suspended from the Conservative Party pending an “investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour earlier this week.”

The nature of the allegation is unclear.

The MP for Bournemouth West, who has held the seat since 2010, Burns said he will cooperate fully with the probe and “looks forward to clearing his name,” according to The Sun.

A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street said: “Following a complaint of serious misconduct, the prime minister has asked Conor Burns MP to leave the government with immediate effect.

“The prime minister took direct action on being informed of this allegation and is clear that all ministers should maintain the high standards of behaviour—as the public rightly expects.”

A spokesman for the Whips’ Office said: “We have suspended the whip pending investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour earlier this week.

“We take all such allegations extremely seriously. The prime minister has been clear that the highest standards in public life must be upheld.”

Burns didn’t immediately respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.

Allegations against another MP triggered the unravelling of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s leadership in July.

Following sexual misconduct allegations against then-Conservative Party deputy chief whip Chris Pincher, the Whip’s Office was criticised for taking too long to suspend Pincher.

After it was revealed that there had been previous allegations against Pincher, Downing Street said Johnson wasn’t aware of specific allegations against Pincher before appointing him deputy chief whip, but later admitted that Johnson was aware of “allegations that were either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint.”

On July 7, Johnson announced he was stepping down as prime minister after more than 50 government ministers resigned in protest.

PA Media contributed to this report.