Rebel Tories are threatening to release a secret recording of Government whips' 'blackmail' threats as their battle with Boris Johnson took an astonishing new turn.
Backbenchers pushing for the Prime Minister to be replaced amid Partygate chaos claim to have taped party enforcers attempting to bully MPs, as well as having copies of text messages.
Mr Johnson insisted on Thursday he had 'seen no evidence' to support the claim made by senior Conservative William Wragg that his critics were facing 'intimidation' as part of an effort to prevent him being ousted from office.
They include an incendiary claim from defector Christian Wakeford that he was told finding for a new school in his Bury South constituency would be withheld if he did not back the Government in axing free meals for pupils.
The Times reported that Tory MPs keen to see the back of Mr Johnson have secretly recorded 'heated' conversation with the chief whip Mark Spencer, as well as text messages to support the accusations.
However, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today insisted that he 'didn't think this was happening', saying blackmail threats as alleged would be 'unacceptable'.
Christian Wakeford alleged he was told finding for a new school in his Bury South constituency would be withheld if he did not back the Government in axing free meals for pupils
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today insisted that he 'didn't think this was happening', saying blackmail threats as alleged would be 'unacceptable'.
The Times reported that Tory MPs keen to see the back of Mr Johnson have secretly recorded 'heated' conversation with the chief whip Mark Spencer, as well as text messages to support the accusations.
Mr Johnson insisted on Thursday he had 'seen no evidence' to support the claim made by senior Conservative William Wragg that his critics were facing 'intimidation' as part of an effort to prevent him being ousted from office.
He told ITV's Good Morning Britain the whips' job is 'to persuade people to vote with the Government, as they have done for decades, and they try to do that by a variety of means'.
But he said: 'The idea that they'll say to an MP 'Well, if you don't vote with the Government then your school or your hospital won't get the requisite funds', I think that's appalling.'
He added: 'They're serious allegations, they need to be investigated, and I think there should be consequences if people have been found to behave in that way.
'I find it very unlikely myself, but we're going to have to
