'Partygate' scandal: Johnson critics face government 'blackmail', says UK lawmaker
A lawmaker from Britain's governing Conservatives accused the government of blackmailing opponents of prime minister Boris Johnson as the party's internal rifts deepened following the Downing Street's "Partygate" scandal.
Senior Tory politician William Wragg disclosed the alleged intimidation campaign on Thursday as Downing Street battles to shore up Johnson against calls from within the party for his resignation.
Wragg said legislators calling for a challenge to Johnson's leadership have faced "intimidation," and urged them to contact the police.
Wragg accused Johnson's staff, government ministers, and others of "encouraging the publication of stories in the press seeking to embarrass those they who suspect of lacking confidence in the prime minister."
"The intimidation of a member of parliament is a serious matter. Reports of which I am aware would seem to constitute blackmail," said Wragg, one of seven Tory MPs who have publicly called for a party confidence vote.
He also alleged that rebellious lawmakers had been threatened with a loss of public funding for their constituencies.
Inside the House of Commons, opposition lawmaker Alistair Carmichael asked speaker Lindsay Hoyle how members can protect themselves from "tactics of the mafia."
Hoyle, addressing the chamber in somber tones, said "the investigation of allegedly criminal conduct is a matter for the police," after offering private contact from members in writing.
She also said any such campaign would amount to "contempt" of parliament, which is a criminal offence.
Johnson has denied the allegations that his aides had tried to "blackmail" and threaten Conservative rebels.
He told reporters he has "seen no evidence, heard no evidence, to support any of those
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