BORIS Johnson today insisted he has seen “no evidence” of accusations that No10 are blackmailing mutinous MPs into backing his troubled leadership.
Senior Tory William Wragg, who has called for the PM to quit, said some of his colleagues were facing “intimidation” that could be a matter for the police.
Downing Street also said it was not aware of any evidence to support the backbencher’s “serious allegations”.
Six Tory MPs including Mr Wragg have publicly submitted letters of no confidence in Mr Johnson, with many more believed to have done so privately.
The so-called Pork Pie Plot to oust the PM was cooled yesterday as Tories closed ranks following a defection to Labour.
But Mr Wragg, chair of the Public Administration committee, reignited tempers w this morning with claims of dirty tricks from the Government.
He said the alleged blackmailers include “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”.
At the start of the committee hearing he said: “The intimidation of a Member of Parliament is a serious matter. Reports of which I am 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 Metropolitan Police.”
A No 10 spokesman 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.”
Asked if there are plans to hold an inquiry into the allegation, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman responded: “Certainly not that I’m aware of.”
In the Commons, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said it would be a “contempt” to obstruct MPs in doing their duties by trying to “intimidate” them.
