Boris Johnson’s government accused of blackmailing lawmakers to carry out plot to overthrow him

For decades, political watchers have speculated that Boris Johnson’s ramshackle look and oafish style are both an action. Beneath it all, he is truly a calculated political operator with the unique ability to seduce the public and rise above notoriety to cling to power. Over the past few weeks, that theory has wiped out quite spectacularly.

His latest unprecedented humiliation comes on Thursday after a plot to remove him was cooked up by his own lawmakers, who were outraged by a string of revelations that he attended or hosted alcohol parties while the rest of Britain was on lockdown – even Queen Elizabeth, who sat alone at her husband’s funeral hours after being beaten on Downing Street.

Looks like that plot is already in place, at least for now. But then a member of the British prime minister’s Conservative Party went public with an unusual allegation — that Johnson’s government is blackmailing lawmakers in a potentially illegal attempt to dissuade them from joining the rebels trying to remove Johnson from office.

The lawmaker, William Wragg, has encouraged his colleagues to contact police if they are accused of intimidation, which Wragg claims includes withholding government funds for local projects and disclosures damaging stories about rebels for the press.

“In recent days, some members of parliament have faced pressure and threats from government members because they have stated or assumed a desire for a vote of confidence on the leadership role. the prime minister’s party,” Wragg said in parliament on Thursday.

The senior lawmaker continued: “Intimidating a member of parliament is a serious matter … Furthermore, the reports that I am aware of appear to constitute blackmail. So my general advice to colleagues is to report these matters to the Speaker and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. “

The chancellor’s office at 10 Downing Street said it “doesn’t know of any evidence” for the allegations, but added: “If there is any evidence to support these claims, we will see examine it very carefully.”

Johnson’s position looks increasingly shaky as accusations of the Downing Street lockdown party pile up over the past few weeks.

To remove their leader, 54 lawmakers from Johnson’s Conservative Party must submit a letter of no-confidence to the prime minister, who will then face a vote of confidence among all 359 party members. Conservative in parliament. However, the number of letters that have been sent is a closely guarded secret – a vote of confidence will only be announced once the threshold of 54 has been passed.

The dramatic blackmail allegation follows a series of severe blows to Johnson on Wednesday, when one of his lawmakers defected to the opposition Labor Party, and former minister David Davis told the prime minister in his face during a session in parliament: “In the name of God, go!”

Johnson has declined to speculate on his future, telling people to wait for the publication of a formal report on his government’s parties during the pandemic, which is expected to be released next week.