Boris Johnson’s future: Ministers blackmailing plotters, claims Tory MPon January 20, 2022 at 11:32 am

A senior Tory has accused the government of trying to “blackmail” its own MPs against plotting to remove Boris Johnson.

William Wragg, one of those calling on the PM to resign, said rebels had faced “pressures and intimidation” from ministers.

And he claimed suspected plotters had been threatened with damaging publicity.

No 10 said it was “not aware of any evidence” for Mr Wragg’s allegations.

“If there is any evidence to support these claims we would look at it very carefully,” a Downing Street spokesperson added.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said “serious allegations” had been made, and MPs with concerns should write to him.

He said government ministers and those who work for them “are not above the criminal law,” after Mr Wragg said MPs concerned about potential blackmail should contact the Metropolitan Police.

But the Speaker added: “The investigation of allegedly criminal conduct is a matter for the police and decisions about prosecution are for the CPS.”

Mr Johnson is facing down an attempt from some Tory MPs to oust him as leader over lockdown parties held in Downing Street.

He has called on potential rebels to wait for the outcome of civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry into parties, expected next week, before passing judgement on him.

But in a sign of worsening relations between Mr Johnson and his backbenchers, Mr Wragg launched a stinging attack on the way the government has handled dissent among Tory MPs.

Speaking during a Commons committee that he chairs, the MP for Hazel Grove accused government whips – MPs in charge of discipline – of threatening those suspected of plotting with the removal of government investment in their constituencies.

He also said he had received reports of government ministers, advisers and staff at No 10 “encouraging the publication of stories in the press seeking to embarrass” those suspected of lacking confidence in the PM.

He claimed the reports “would seem to constitute blackmail” – and encouraged MPs targeted in this way to contact the Commons Speaker and the Metropolitan Police.

Cabinet Office Minister Stephen Barclay, who was attending the committee, said he would relay the concerns to the government.

It follows a dramatic day in Westminster on Wednesday, when Tory MP Christian Wakeford defected to Labour, describing the PM as incapable of leading.

Tory grandee and former ally of Mr Johnson David Davis told the PM: “In the name of God, go.”

So far six Conservative MPs have publicly declared no confidence in the PM, but more are thought to have submitted letters to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 committee, who organises Tory leadership contests.

There are claims that the threshold of 54 letters needed to trigger a no-confidence vote and leadership election could soon be reached, but no official word has been given.

However, some Conservatives have told the BBC the mood has changed, following the defection of Mr Wakeford.

“I don’t think anything could have united us more than watching someone cross the floor like that,” said Tory MP Joy Morrissey, who, like Mr Wakeford, won her seat in 2019.

Northern Ireland Minister Conor Burns – a close ally of Mr Johnson – told BBC Newsnight: “I think there is a real sense of stepping back and realising that the right thing to do is to wait for Sue Gray’s report to then question the prime minister, as he’s quite properly said he will come to the House of Commons and make a statement and answer for it.”

Ms Gray’s team are talking to the PM’s former aide Dominic Cummings, who says he warned the PM that the Downing Street garden party on 20 May 2020 risked breaking Covid rules.

Mr Cummings has also accused Mr Johnson – who insists he thought the party was a work event – of misleading Parliament.

On Thursday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that any people in government who did not follow the rules “should be disciplined”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he added:”I look forward to that disciplinary action taking place”, adding stories about parties inside No 10 had been “damaging” to the country’s democracy.

But added it was “right to wait for the outcome” of the investigation.