Beleaguered United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is now battling claims that Tory critics are facing 'intimidation' which could amount to blackmail as part of an effort to keep him in office, according to reports in several publications in the UK. Photo: Insider

William P. Wragg, speaking at the opening of a session of his committee, is one of seven Tories who have publicly called for Boris Johnson to go. Photo: The Times

Ex-Tory MP, Christian Wakeford, who defected to Labour said he was threatened he would not get a high school in his constituency if he did not vote in a certain way. Photo: BBC

William P. Wragg, the Tory chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said he had received reports of conduct including “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 who they suspect of lacking confidence in the Prime Minister”.

‘Intimidation of MP a serious matter’

“The intimidation of a Member of Parliament is a serious matter. Reports of which I am aware would seem to constitute blackmail,” Mr Wragg said at the start of a Commons committee hearing.

“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.”

But Mr Johnson, who is known to lie to Parliament and has been described as a pathological liar by UK MPs, has said: “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.”

Mr Wragg is one of a handful of Tory MPs to have said publicly they have submitted a letter to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, calling for a no-confidence vote in Mr Johnson’s leadership.

He said the conduct of the Government Whips’ Office threatening to withdraw public funding from MPs’ constituencies may have breached the ministerial code.

Meanwhile, ex-Tory MP Christian Wakeford who defected to Labour said he was threatened he would not get a high school in his constituency if he did not vote in a certain way.

‘In the name of God, go!’

Opposition figures have seized on Wragg's explosive comments, which come just a day after former Brexit secretary David Davis told Johnson "in the name of God, go".

Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, said they were "grave and shocking accusations" and called for a full investigation.

Ironically, Johnson has backed a controversial Commission of Inquiry (CoI) called by his buddy and ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, who was known to be at loggerheads with Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1).

Jaspert had claimed he received unsubstantiated reports of corruption and intimidation in government.

The CoI has failed to unearth any such evidence.