Number Ten was today accused of orchestrating a politically motivated ‘witch hunt’ against Boris Johnson after the Tories launched a formal probe into his burqa comments.

The ex Foreign Secretary faces being punished by party bosses and could even be kicked out of the party after comparing women in the head veils to letterboxes.

Tory sources have insisted the party was left with no choice but to launch the probe because it was triggered automatically after they received a flurry of complaints.

But the move has sparked a furious backlash from Mr Johnson’s allies who have accused No10 of trying to ‘destroy’ the ex minister because they see him as a threat.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told MailOnline: ‘I believe this is politically motivated, by the internal politics of the Tory party, by politicians who want to humiliate and destroy Boris Johnson.’