A PARLIAMENTARY candidate says Boris Johnson has yet to respond to court papers filed last week.

Azfar Shah Bukhari, an independent contesting the Bradford West seat held by Labour’s Naz Shah, filed the case against the Prime Minister in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Royal Courts of Justice.

He has asked the court to declare whether Mr Johnson is a “person fit and proper to hold public office."

The papers list past instances where Johnson has made comments referred to as homophobic and racist - including an instance where he described black people as having “watermelon smiles” and times he described Muslim women in burkas as “letterboxes” and “bank robbers.”

Bradford election hopeful files court case against Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Mr Bukhari had hoped the case could be dealt with before the General Election but has contacted the Telegraph & Argus to say: "Since the defendant didn't file anything in his defence, the decision can not be expedited and may take more time as the case is very serious in nature that will definitely settle the long lasting debate of racism vs freedom of speech, forever."

Mr Bukhari has now returned to the UK, having initially given his address as being in Pakistan, where he had been on a journalistic assignment since September.

He told the Telegraph & Argus that he was now living in Shipley, with his assignment having ended.

The Conservative Party declined to comment.