Boris Johnson is under fire yet again after a bombshell allegation of blackmail was made by a Senior Tory MP in a statement made during a recent committee hearing.
The extraordinary claims were made by William Wragg, Tory MP for Hazel Grove and Chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, who said he has received reports of conduct by members of the government amounting to “blackmail”.
Tory backbenchers are allegedly facing “pressures and intimidation” and threats to pull funding in their constituencies over their support for a no confidence motion in the Prime Minister after the fallout from Partygate continues.
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Mr Wragg said: "In recent days, a number of members of Parliament have faced pressures and intimidation from members of the government because of their declared or assumed desire for a vote of confidence in the party leadership of the Prime Minister."
He went on to say the whips were responsible for continuing Government business but added: "It is not their function to breach the ministerial code in threatening to withdraw investments from members of parliament's constituencies which are funded from the public purse."
Mr Wragg added: "Intimidation of a member of Parliament is a serious matter. Moreover, the reports of which I am aware would seem to constitute blackmail.
"As such it would be my general advice to colleagues to report these matters to the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police."
Boris Johnson said he had seen “no evidence to support any of those allegations” following senior Tory MP William Wragg’s claims of conduct amounting to “blackmail” against critics of the Prime Minister.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, weighed in on these claims and accused Boris Johnson of acting like a “mafia boss” and said the police must investigate these claims.
“It is simply remarkable that a Prime Minister could countenance scrapping local projects and funding if MPs refuse to back him,” Sir Ed said.
“All Boris Johnson cares about is saving his own skin. He’s acting more like a mafia boss than a Prime Minister.
“These latest allegations of criminal behaviour are yet more proof that a civil servant investigation into Partygate is utterly inadequate. The Metropolitan Police must investigate.”
On Wednesday, Boris Johnson announced that Plan B measures to control the spread of coronavirus in England will be allowed to expire after latest data shows Omicron cases in decline.
Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, told a Downing Street press conference: “This plan has worked and the data shows that Omicron is in retreat.”
He described the relaxation of measures as a “major milestone”, adding: “But it’s not the end of the road and we shouldn’t see this as the finish line because we cannot eradicate this virus and its future variants.
“Instead we must learn to live with Covid in the same way we have to live with flu. And we will be setting out our long-term plan for living with Covid-19 this spring.”
Downing Street has suggested are no plans to hold an inquiry into a claim No 10 staff and ministers have blackmailed Tory MPs considering calling for a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson.
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