Partygate Now It’s Blackmailgate

[Hymie]

From the Good Law Project

Following revelations of bullying from several MPs, lawyers for Good Law Project have written to the Prime Minister and Michael Gove threatening judicial review proceedings for misusing Ministerial powers – and pointing out that the revelations may amount to the criminal offence of misconduct in public office.

Yesterday, the MP for Bury South went on record to say the Government threatened to scrap plans to build a school in his constituency unless he voted with the Government. Imagine threatening to punish school kids to save your own skin.

Sadly, this latest revelation doesn’t come as a shock. The newspapers have carried stories for months that the Government has been blackmailing MPs by threatening to punish their constituents unless they toed the party line.

Reports suggest the Government has used these dirty tactics to pressure MPs to vote a certain way on everything from free school meals to cutting international aid. They are also said to have used these threats to force a vote to save the disgraced former MP Owen Paterson from suspension.

If proven, the allegations could amount to misconduct in public office – a criminal offence. And they would amount to an unlawful misuse of Ministerial powers.

Good Law Project had already written to the Government regarding these underhand tactics. They tried to brush the allegations off.

But now more MPs and former MPs are breaking cover to confirm these reports and we are once again demanding answers from the Government. We want to know if they are investigating these serious allegations from their own MPs. If not, why not? We also want full sight of any complaints made by MPs.

If answers aren’t not forthcoming, we are likely to commence further legal action against the Prime Minister.

[ToraToraTora]

Perlease!

[bobbinwales]

I'd be happy to see the end of Boris (altho am worried if its Rishi we may not see Kier win the next election)... but havent whips allways done this I can remmeber some really ill labour MP having to attend a commons vote and being wheeled in by the whips to vote for Jim Callaghan (one of my heros) in 1978/79

[douglas9401]

I'll take the wee souls seriously when they band togather to outlaw the hubbub of farmyard noises made by honourable members on any given day.

[tomus42]

Isn't this what whips do? Ie bully, bribe, and blackmail rogue backbenchers into voting with the party.
It's in their job description.

[Hymie]

Should add, Boris has said that he has seen no evidence of MPs being blackmailed.

Based on his Partygate pronouncements, me thinks it is highly likely he was directly involved in such behaviour.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah I thought whips ( see the name geddit ????) bullied and cajoled and twisted arms of the less-than-committed.

one whip said I will never be appointed to high office ( like Home Sec or Chancellor) because I was a whip and what I did to other people

altho I think at one point - Ed heath was a whip...

[Peter Pedant]

well there is meant to be a recording.....

but he said she said ( thx to judge Judy) and the complainant has to get this to get up and run

[Hymie]

In relation to these blackmail allegations, Government Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said he had "never heard of anything like this" since becoming an MP but if it had happened it would be "very seriously regarded" by the government.

[mushroom25]

// altho I think at one point - Ed heath was a whip... //

he was - by 1955 he was government chief whip. given his reputation for petulance, he did see to be an odd choice for a job requiring tact and patience.

[ichkeria]

Downing Street say they won’t investigate - which is outrageous really.

Mind you, who’d trust any investigation they carried out?

[ichkeria]

There was another ex-MP on the news tonight who said the save thing happened to him and that he recognised the scenario very well

[Hymie]

‘Very seriously regarded’ – but definitely not worth investigating.

[jno]

what's new about it is being made public in a matter of days. MPs used not to talk about such things, but bullying is an issue these days.

[Stickybottle]

The Tory party crisis deepens as allegations that Downing St staff parties until 1 am the night before the funeral of Prince Philip and a picture has emerged of staff using a swing in 10 Downing St that belonged to the PMs son
Apparently the pic has been presented to the Gray enquiry :

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-news-live-party-resign-b1997724.html

[Stickybottle]

*correction
The photograph may become a point of focus in the Gray enquiry

[Togo]

//Yesterday, the MP for Bury South went on record to say the Government threatened to scrap plans to build a school in his constituency unless he voted with the Government.//

Interpretation. Do think again dear boy ... if the marxists get back in the school will be on the back burner because they will award themselves all the funds and insist it is not safe for the kiddies, or teachers, in school anymore. Diddums.

[tomus42]

Jno, if this results in Westminster coming out of their strange bubble and joining the rest of us in the world where bullying, bribery and blackmail is frowned upon I'm all for it. Bring on the new.

[Togo]

For the record ... the Mp for Bury South is , Ta Da. Christian Wakeford. The turncoat rat eminently more suited to the left wing ranks. Haha. The leftie voters there have told him to Foreign Office as well.

[Hymie]

It looks like the police might be investigating Blackmailgate.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60093893

[Peter Pedant]

Thank you mushie
I hadnt realised it ( Heath as Chief Whip) it was so long before being PM. He did far better than history allows - Margt Thatchers first admin was full of heath placemen and were good choices