- Trade Minister Conor Burns has been fired from the U.K. government following a complaint of "serious misconduct" at the country's ruling Conservative Party’s annual conference this week.
- The MP has also been suspended from the party grouping in parliament, pending an investigation into the allegation against him.
- A spokesperson for Prime Minister Liz Truss 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 ... high standards of behaviour — as the public rightly expects.”
- Burns, 50, told The Sun newspaper — which first broke the story — that he would "fully cooperate with the investigation and looks forward to clearing his name.”
- The Conservative Party conference took place in Birmingham from Sunday to Wednesday this week.