Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns has been sacked from the government following a misconduct complaint.

The complaint is understood to refer to an incident that took place at a bar during the Conservative party conference in Birmingham earlier this week.

Burns has lost both his job as a trade minister and the party whip while the complaint is investigated.

Downing Street said in a statement: “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 the high standard of behaviour – as the public rightly expects.”

The Telegraph reported that the Whips’ Office was contacted by a conference delegate who witnessed the alleged incident at the Hyatt hotel bar.

The Hyatt was inside the secure zone of the conference and is where delegates and other conference attendees, including journalists and lobbyists, congregated in the evening.

Burns had also previously worked as a minister under the Boris Johnson government.