Boris Johnson has answered questions about Islamophobia in the Conservative Party by defending the right to speak "frankly".
Mr Johnson last year refused to apologise after comparing Muslim women wearing face veils to “letterboxes” and “bank robbers”.
It comes after it was revealed some Tory members under investigation for Islamophobia would not lose their right to vote in the leadership contest.
Asked whether he was comfortable with that idea, Johnson said: "he wanted to ban “all racists and xenophobes” from voting for him.
“I don’t want people who are convicted of the kind of prejudice that you describe to take part in our party,” he said.
But he added: “One thing I would say is I think sometimes it is important also that we have a culture that allows people to speak frankly and doesn’t convict them of malice aforethought.
“There is a balance to be struck.”
Mr Johnson made the comments at a hustings event in York.
They were welcomed by a warm round of applause.
