Attempts to pressure Tory MPs trying to topple Boris Johnson are illegal, the head of a Westminster sleaze watchdog has argued.
Labour MP Chris Bryant, who is chairman of the Commons Standards Committee, said alleged threats to pull public funding from members’ constituencies amounted to “misconduct in public office” and should be reported to the police.
He also referred to claims that Boris Johnson himself had been directly involved.
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Mr Bryant’s comments came after William Wragg, the senior Tory MP who first raised concerns about attempted “blackmail” by Downing Street, revealed he was to meet police about his allegations.
MPs should operate ‘without fear or favour’
Mr Bryant said he had spoken to “about a dozen” Conservatives in recent days who had either been threatened by government whips with having cash cut from their constituencies or promised funding if they voted ‘the right way’.
“I have even heard MPs alleging that the prime minister himself has been doing this,” Mr Bryant told the BBC.
“What I have said to all of those people is that I think that is misconduct in public office. The people who should be dealing with such allegations are the police.
“We are not the United States. We don’t run a ‘pork barrel’ system. It is illegal.
“We are meant to operate as MPs without fear or favour.
“The allocation of taxpayer funding to constituencies should be according to need, not according to the need to keep the prime minister in his job.”
Read more: ‘Not moral or immoral but amoral’: Party whips have always revelled…
Source : skynews
