Police are set to meet a Greater Manchester MP to discuss allegations of Tory MPs being blackmailed, The Telegraph is reporting.
William Wragg, MP for Hazel Grove, made a statement yesterday at a meeting of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee - which he chairs - alleging that critics considering triggering a no-confidence vote in the Prime Minister were receiving threats to “withdraw investments” from constituencies, as well as “intimidation” from No 10 staff.
He said these threats could amount to “blackmail” and urged colleagues to report them to the police.
The Telegraph reports tonight that detectives from the Metropolitan Police are set to meet with Mr Wragg 'early next week' to discuss these claims.
READ MORE: 'Disgusting': Radcliffe reacts to claims government blackmailed MP over town's new school
He told The Telegraph that he would give police 'several examples' of this intimidation to MPs.
He told the paper: "The offer of Number 10 to investigate is kind but I shall leave it to the experts. I am meeting the Police early next week."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman also told them: "As with any such allegations, should a criminal offence be reported to the Met, it would be considered."
This comes as The Guardian reports that MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, had rumours about his personal life spread by Conservative ministers and whips just minutes after he joined the Labour benches before Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday (January 19).
Mr Wakeford also alleged this week that funding for a new school in Radcliffe would be withheld if he did not vote with the Government over free school meals while he was a Conservative MP.
On Thursday he told BBC North West: “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.”
The claims of intimidation come as Mr Johnson battles to remain in power ahead of the result of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry into allegations of rule-breaking partying during coronavirus restrictions.
The result of her investigation is not expected until next week.
Downing Street has so far resisted opening an investigation into these allegations of blackmail.
However, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News: “As far as the specific allegation about whips withholding funds, I think that’s completely unacceptable.
“Any form of blackmail and intimidation of that kind simply has no place in British politics.
“We need to get to the bottom of the matter. But I find it very unlikely that these allegations are true.”
A spokesman for the Prime Minister added: “We’re not aware of any evidence to support what are clearly serious allegations.
“If there was any evidence to support it, it would of course be looked at.”
