TORY MP Julian Lewis has been kicked out of the Conservative parliamentary party after beating Chris Grayling to become chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was widely believed to want former transport secretary Chris Grayling to become the chairman of the body which oversees the work of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

But concerns had been raised that the body's impartiality could be undermined, and MPs backed Lewis.

A senior government source told the BBC that Lewis "has been told by the chief whip that it is because he worked with Labour and other opposition MPs for his own advantage."

With the Conservatives enjoying a majority – with five out of nine places on the committee – there had been concern at Westminster that the Tory members would be “whipped” to support Grayling despite concerns about his expertise.

Former national security adviser Lord Ricketts had warned that Grayling – who earned the nickname “Failing Grayling” during a chequered ministerial career – does not “match up” to the authority and reputation of former chairs.

READ MORE: Julian Lewis wins intelligence committee chair in blow to Chris Grayling

Grayling held cabinet positions under David Cameron and Theresa May including transport secretary.

Despite supporting Johnson in the Conservative leadership election he was not given a role in government.

As well as Grayling and Dr Lewis, the members of the ISC are Tory MPs Theresa Villiers, Sir John Hayes and Mark Pritchard, Labour MPs Dame Diana Johnson and Kevan Jones, the Labour peer Admiral Lord West and the SNP MP Stewart Hosie.