Majority of Britons say Boris Johnson should not be punished for burka comments, according to poll

More than half of voters believe Boris Johnson should not face disciplinary action for his comments about the burka, according to a new poll.

The ComRes survey for the Sunday Express found 53% opposed to punishment for the former foreign secretary, against 40% who said he deserved to be disciplined.

The poll was released as Mr Johnson returned to the UK from a holiday in Italy amid an escalating civil war within the Conservative Party over his description of Muslim women in face-covering veils as looking like letter-boxes or bank robbers.

Brexit-backing MP Jacob Rees-Mogg denounced the investigation launched into Mr Johnson's remarks as a "show trial" motivated by Mrs May's personal rivalry with...