DOWNING STREET remained silent today over racist, sexist and offensive comments made by a Conservative Party aide.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office refused to respond to questions about the comments by recent recruit Andrew Sabisky, who has previously proposed enforced contraception “to avoid unplanned pregnancies and the creation of a permanent underclass.”

He has also said that black people have lower IQs than white people.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “I’m not going to be commenting on individual appointments.”

Asked whether Mr Johnson agreed with Mr Sabisky’s comments on eugenics or the IQ of black people, the spokesman said: “The Prime Minister’s views on a range of subjects are well publicised and documented.”

Labour leadership hopeful Rebecca Long Bailey said: “We’ve got a Prime Minister who once published an article saying black people ‘are at the other pole’ in terms of IQ.

“It’s no accident that Johnson has hired someone who supports eugenics.”

Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: “It is disgusting that not only has Number 10 failed to condemn Andrew Sabisky’s appalling comments but also seems to have endorsed the idea that white people are more intelligent than black people.

“Boris Johnson should have the backbone to make a statement in his own words on why he has made this appointment, whether he stands by it, and his own views on the subject of eugenics.”

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “These are really not acceptable headlines for any government to be generating (or allowing to be generated).

“They need to get a grip fast and demonstrate some basic but fundamental values in the terms of our public debate.”

Tory MP Caroline Nokes, chairwoman of the Commons women & equalities committee, said she could not believe Number 10 had refused to comment on Mr Sabisky, adding that there “must be no place in government” for his views.

It is understood that special advisers are prepared to boycott meetings where Mr Sabisky is present and refuse to reply to any emails he sends.

The scandal has prompted a closer examination of Mr Johnson’s history as editor of the right-wing Spectator magazine. He published an article by columnist Taki that said: “On average, Orientals are slower to mature, less randy, less fertile, and have larger brains and higher IQ scores.

“Blacks are at the other pole, and whites fall somewhere in the middle, although closer to the Orientals than the blacks.”