The Conservative Party have confirmed a major shake-up to their Islamophobia complaints process - hours after Sue Gray published her damning Partygate report.
Party chairman Oliver Dowden told members this afternoon officials have focused on updating its complaints procedure and updated a new safeguarding policy in response to a damaging report on Islamophobia within the party.
From 2015-2020 the party's central database recorded 1,418 complaints relating to 727 incidents of alleged discrimination - an average of 237 complaints about 122 incidents a year, an independent inquiry into Islamophobia within the party noted.
No action was taken in 418 incidents for reasons including the complaint being in relation to someone who was not a party member, insufficient evidence or a prior investigation.
A CCHQ source told the Mirror the updated code of conduct contains a much clearer complaints process which hears all complaints made against it.
The updated code clearly states that all party members must "not discriminate against, bully, harass or victimise any other person because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation".
It even adds party members must not "bully or harass anyone for any reason", which was not previously in its code of conduct.
Mr Dowden noted: "I know how hard our members up and down the country work to support our Party, and we will continue to work tirelessly to be a welcoming environment for all, with no place or prejudice or discrimination on any grounds."
The updated process was confirmed minutes after the Prime Minister darted from his Downing Street press conference on Partygate.
The Gray report detailed events at which officials drank so much they were sick, sang karaoke, became involved in altercations and abused security and cleaning staff at a time when millions of people across the country were unable to see friends and family.
Mr Johnson told a Downing Street press conference: “I understand why people are indignant and why people have been angry at what took place.”
Pressed on whether he ever considered resigning, he responded: “I overwhelmingly feel it is my job to get on and deliver.
“No matter how bitter and painful that the conclusions of this may be – and they are – and no matter how humbling they are, I have got to keep moving forward and the Government has got to keep moving. And we are.”
