The former foreign secretary has been criticised for saying women wearing burkas “look like letterboxes“ and comparing them to “bank robbers”.

The Prime Minister Theresa May has joined calls for the Tory Rebel to apologise saying the remarks have “clearly caused offence”.

However, a source close to Mr Johnson said he “won’t be apologising”, adding it was “ridiculous” to attack his views.

“We must not fall into the trap of shutting down the debate on difficult issues,” the source added.

“We have to call it out. If we fail to speak up for liberal values then we are simply yielding ground to reactionaries and extremists.”

Mr Johnson’s remarks, in a Daily Telegraph article, have provoked criticism from Muslim groups, some Tory MPs and opposition parties such as labour and the Lib Dems.

 

In the article, Mr Johnson said full-face veils should not be banned but looked “ridiculous”.

On the Nigel Farage Show, last night on LBC Mr Farage suggested Mr Johnson is now in a better place to take over number ten, Mr Farage agreed with a caller than Boris has increased his chances of becoming the next Prime Minister after his comments.

A caller called Graham said to Nigel that he believed that his comments “Greatly increased his chances of becoming Prime Minister.” 

Farage Replied, “Graham, I agree with you!”