The MP who defected to Labour was told a new local school would be scrapped if he voted for free kids’ meals.
It is understood the pressure on Christian Wakeford came over the bid to feed hungry pupils.
And Boris Johnson last night faced claims Tory whips blackmailed MPs plotting to oust him by vowing to axe cash for vital services in their towns.
Mr Wakeford said of the school in Radcliffe, Bury: “I was threatened that I would not get it if I did not vote in one particular way.”
The PM was last night accused of acting like a mafia don amid claims Tory MPs plotting to oust him over Partygate have been blackmailed and bullied.
Rebels were allegedly warned they would have constituency funds for vital services blocked or damaging stories about them planted in the press unless they supported the PM as he tries to save his own skin.
A senior Tory has urged MPs to report any such claims to police. And Christian Wakeford, the Red Wall Tory who defected to Labour this week, suffered the same outrageous tactics in a bid to get him to vote against free school meals for poor kids in the holidays.
He says he was threatened with the scrapping of a new school in his Greater Manchester constituency if he sided with Labour in a crucial vote
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The Mirror understands that vote was the Labour bid to feed kids, after a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford. It came as Mr Johnson was boasting about “levelling up” the UK.
The Bury South MP accused whips of threatening to scrap cash for a much-needed new school in his constituency if he sided with Labour in a bid to help feed hungry children.
It came at a time Mr Johnson was boasting about “levelling up”.
Mr Wakeford said tonight: “I was threatened that I would not get the school for Radcliffe if I did not vote in one particular way. This is a town that’s not had a high school for the best part of 10 years, and how would you feel when holding back the regeneration of a town for a vote? It didn’t sit comfortably and that was when I was really starting to question my place at that time.”
The Mirror understands it was a Cabinet Minister who issued the threat to Mr Wakeford. Labour’s motion in October 2020 was voted down by Tory MPs, leaving thousands of families struggling to feed their children.
Tory MP William Wragg today claimed Mr Johnson’s henchmen were at it again over a potential no-confidence vote in the PM in the wake of the Downing Street lockdown parties scandal.
He accused No10 staff, special advisers and whips of threatening to leak embarrassing stories to newspapers about MPs supporting a motion to ditch Mr Johnson.
Other MPs claim they were warned their constituencies would be “starved of cash” if they failed to fall into line.
Commons Public Administration Committee chair Mr Wragg urged MPs to report any attempt to blackmail them to Scotland Yard. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “It is remarkable that a Prime Minister could countenance scrapping local projects and funding if MPs refuse to back him.
“All Boris Johnson cares about is saving his own skin. He’s acting more like a mafia boss than a PM.”
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner added: “These are grave and shocking accusations of bullying, blackmail, and misuse of public money and must be investigated.
“The idea that areas of our country will be starved of funding because their MPs don’t fall into line to prop up this failing Prime Minister is disgusting.”
Mr Johnson tonight dismissed the blackmail claims. On a visit to Taunton, Somerset, he insisted: “I’ve seen no evidence to support those allegations.”
Asked if he would look for evidence to support the claims, the PM replied: “Of course.”
To trigger a no confidence vote in Mr Johnson, 54 letters will need to be handed to the Tory 1922 Committee.
There were claims today some letters have been withdrawn. But the PM is also braced for next week’s Partygate probe report by senior civil servant Sue Gray.
Insiders fear it will fail to fully clear him over the May 20, 2020 “bring your own booze” garden bash at No10.
One government source said: “It’s not going to be as good as people think.
“She’s genuinely struggling to reconcile the Prime Minister’s claim that this was a work event with what she’s been hearing from other people.”
Conservative MP Steve Baker warned it looks like “checkmate” for Mr Johnson over the party scandal.
Former Brexit Secretary David Davis had called for the PM to “go now” in the Commons on Wednesday.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid today admitted the Tory bigwig’s demand was “damaging” for the PM.
He also said if Mr Johnson was found to have broken the law he would have to go.
Mr Javid added: “There is no exception to that rule.”
