The Scottish Tory leader has said a senior Tory MP’s allegations regarding “blackmail” by No 10 must be investigated.
William Wragg, who chairs the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (PACAC),who last week urged the prime minister to resign, has alleged that several MPs expressing opposition to Boris Johnson have received “pressures and intimidation” following the ongoing Downing Street parties scandal.
The Hazel Grove MP claims that No 10 staff, special advisers and Government ministers have sought to encourage “embarrassing” press coverage of MPs no longer backing Mr Johnson.
Douglas Ross told ITV Border this afternoon that Mr Wragg’s claims ”are serious allegations and I’m sure they will be investigated,” he said. He said anyone in the Conservative party would be “disappointed” by the claims, which was why an inquiry would be proper.
Last week, the MP for Moray urged the prime minister to resign.
However Mr Ross did add that he personally lacked any experience with intimidation from the government along the lines of what Mr Wragg described.
Labour have said that a Tory MP’s claims of No 10’s “blackmail” of Conservative MPs must be “thoroughly” investigated.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner wrote via Twitter: “These are shocking accusations of bullying, blackmail[and] bad behaviour from people in positions of power. We need this to be investigated thoroughly.”
“These are grave and shocking accusations of bullying, blackmail and misuse of public money and must be investigated,” she explained to ITV News.
“That areas of our country will be starved of funding because MPs don’t fall into line to prop up this failing Prime Minister is disgusting,” she went on.
