A senior Conservative MP has accused the British government of intimidating and attempting to blackmail backbenchers they suspect of wanting to force Prime Minister Boris Johnson out of power.
William Wragg, chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, accused Mr Johnson's team of “intimidation” in a blistering attack on Thursday and said victims should report incidences to the police.
He said perpetrators included “members of staff at 10 Downing Street, special advisers, government ministers and others encouraging the publication of stories in the press seeking to embarrass those they who suspect of lacking confidence in the Prime Minister”.
“The intimidation of a Member of Parliament is a serious matter, reports of which I am aware would seem to constitute blackmail,” he said at the start of a committee hearing.
The attack is the latest salvo in a fight over whether Boris Johnson should stay as leader of the Conservative Party, and with it remain prime minister.
Boris Johnson insisted he had not seen any evidence to support Mr Wragg’s claims of intimidatory tactics against his Tory critics.
“I’ve seen no evidence to support any of those allegations. What I am focused on is what we’re doing to deal with the number one priority of the British people, which is coming through Covid,” he said.
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The Metropolitan Police have announced a formal investigation into alleged lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street, dealing a heavy blow to Boris Johnson's authority as he faces fresh calls to step down as British Prime Minister over the 'partygate' scandal. Getty Images -
A protester in Parliament Square, London. PA -
Armed police officers walk past the gathered media outside No 10 Downing Street on Tuesday morning. PA -
Mr Johnson holds up a birthday cake - baked for him by school staff - during a visit to Bovingdon Primary Academy in June 2020. The prime minister is facing new allegations of breaking coronavirus rules after it was reported that a gathering to wish him a happy birthday was held inside No 10 during the first nationwide lockdown. PA -
Mr Johnson is driven from Downing Street. Reuters -
A plane flies over Elland Road stadium in Leeds with a message directed to Mr Johnson during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United. Getty Images -
The prime minister seems unimpressed as Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament. AFP -
Labour MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, who defected from the Conservative Party earlier that day, attending Prime Minister's Questions. AFP -
David Davis, Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden, quoted a comment made to Neville Chamberlain before his 1940 resignation as prime minister, telling the beleaguered Mr Johnson: ‘I will remind him of a quotation all too familiar to him ... 'in the name of God, go'.’ AFP -
Dominic Cummings, former adviser to Mr Johnson, speaks to the media outside his home. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson looks as if he is feeling the pressure on a visit to Finchley Memorial Hospital in London. Getty Images -
The shuttered constituency office of Mr Wakeford in Radcliffe, Bury, after he switched his party political allegiance. Getty Images -
Mr Wakeford looks on during a visit by Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to Bury. Getty Images
Mr Wragg is one of a handful of Tory MPs to have said publicly they have submitted a letter to the chairman of the back bench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, calling for a no-confidence vote.
On Wednesday, Conservative MP Christian Wakeford defected to the opposition Labour benches with criticism over Mr Johnson's integrity.
Another Tory MP, David Davis, addressed Mr Johnson, adapting a quote made to former prime minister Neville Chamberlain before his 1940 resignation by Leo Amery: “You have sat here for too long for the good you have done, in the name of God, go!”
Mr Davis later said: “I've just made myself the most unpopular person in the Tory party. Well, the second-most unpopular. But I've gone from thinking maybe we can rescue it to maybe we just have to accelerate it and get it done.”
The attack was taken up again on Thursday by Mr Wragg.
“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,” Mr Wragg informed the committee.
“Moreover, the reports of which I'm 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.”
Mr Wragg was speaking amid the developing scandal around Downing Street lockdown parties.
“It is not [whips'] function to breach the ministerial code in threatening to withdraw investments from Members of Parliaments’ constituencies which are funded from the public purse,” he said.
Some MPs have attempted to oust Mr Johnson, who has vowed to fight on and insisted he would lead the Conservatives into the next general election, scheduled for 2024.
Mr Johnson won a large majority in 2019 but is facing growing calls to step down over a series of controversies, including MPs' second jobs and a refurb of the prime ministerial Downing Street flat.
But the lockdown parties have sparked the widest anger.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner called for a full investigation into Mr Wragg's claims.
“These are grave and shocking accusations of bullying, blackmail and misuse of public money and must be investigated thoroughly,” she said.
“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. ”
In response to Mr Wragg’s allegations, a Downing Street representative said: “We are not aware of any evidence to support what are clearly serious allegations. If there is any evidence to support these claims we would look at it very carefully.”
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said it would be a contempt to obstruct MPs in doing their duties by trying to intimidate.
He noted the “serious allegations” made by Mr Wragg, before offering general guidance to MPs as he had not yet had a chance to study the specific details, he said.
“The investigation of allegedly criminal conduct is a matter for the police and decisions about prosecution are for the Crown Prosecution Service,” he said. “It will be wrong of me to interfere with such matters.
“While the whipping system is long-established, it is of course a contempt to obstruct members
in the discharge of their duty or to attempt to intimidate a member in their parliamentary conduct by threats.”
Mr Wragg's intervention reignited the controversy over Mr Johnson's future as the mood at Westminster appeared to be calming.
An investigation into the lockdown parties is being led by Sue Gray, a civil servant. Mr Johnson says he attended what he thought was a work event on May 20, 2020, to which staff had been told to “bring their own booze".
Mr Johnson said on Tuesday nobody had told him at the time that the gathering was against Covid-19 rules, and on Wednesday he told Parliament he would not resign.
