PRESSURE will be ramped up on Boris Johnson over the “Partygate” scandal this week, with allegations of “blackmail” of MPs reported to police and the publication of the keenly-awaited report into lockdown gatherings.
William Wragg, the senior Tory MP who first raised allegations of threats by Number 10 against those seeking to oust the Prime Minister, yesterday disclosed that he is to meet police early this week to discuss his claims. This raises the prospect of police could open an investigation and the MP said he would outline “several” examples of bullying and intimidation, in some cases involving public money.
“I stand by what I have said. No amount of gas-lighting will change that,” Wragg told The Daily Telegraph.
Downing Street has said it would not be mounting its own inquiry into the claims, despite calls to do so by both Conservative and opposition MPs. A Number 10 spokesman said it would only open an inquiry if it was presented with evidence to back up Wragg’s assertions.
Chris Bryant (above), chairman of the Commons Standards Committee, yesterday warned threats to withdraw public funding from MPs’ constituencies amounted to “misconduct in public office”.
He said there were even allegations the Prime Minister had been directly involved as he battles to save his job ahead of the report into lockdown parties in Downing Street.
The Labour MP said he had spoken to “about a dozen” Conservatives in recent days who had either been threatened by Government whips with having funding cut from their constituencies or promised funding if they voted “the right way”.
Downing Street said it had not seen any proof of the behaviour he alleges.
With mounting fears he will face a no-confidence vote, Johnson is said to be spending time at Chequers this weekend calling Tory MPs who are wavering in an attempt to boost his support. Many Tory MPs have chosen to wait to decide whether to submit letters to the 1922 Committee until the outcome of the investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray into allegations of Downing Street lockdown parties, which is expected to be published this week.
Catherine Haddon, senior fellow with the Institute for Government, said Gray could recommend disciplinary action for officials, which will be dealt with internally by the civil service. But she added: “She is not likely to draw her own conclusions when it comes to sanctions of ministers and special advisers as that is not her job.
“It is not appropriate for civil servants to recommend sanctions as far as ministers and the Prime Minister goes.”
Haddon said the key question would be whether the report provides Tory MPs with enough material to make a judgement on whether to support the Prime Minister.
She added: “Conservative MPs need to find a way to bring this to a conclusion one way or another as it is massively destabilising for government, all the very important things they are doing.
“If there is a decision he needs to go, they should make that – if there is a decision that they are going to stick with him, they should make that.
“It is damaging for it to keep going on and on and on.”
Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson also heaped on criticism by saying she believes the Prime Minister is “unfit for office”.
She told The Times if she was an MP she would submit a letter of no confidence to the 1922 Committee.
She said: “I didn’t support him for the leadership and I believe what has been exposed to have happened in the last few weeks shows that he’s unfit for office but, I mean, he’s perfectly convivial company.”
Baroness Davidson said one reason Johnson was in a “perilous” situation was some in the party are tired of the “drama” coming from Number 10.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel