Hazel Grove's William Wragg to meet police to discuss 'blackmail' claims

The senior Tory backbencher who accused No 10 of trying to "blackmail" MPs seeking to oust Boris Johnson is to meet police to discuss his allegations.

William Wragg said he will be meeting a Scotland Yard detective in the House of Commons early next week, raising the prospect police could open an investigation.

The disclosure came after Downing Street said it would not be mounting its own inquiry into the claims, despite calls to do so by both Conservative and opposition MPs.

A No 10 spokesman said it would only open an inquiry if it was presented with evidence to back up Mr Wragg's assertions.

However the MP, who chairs the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said he believed an investigation should be for the "experts" in the police.

He told The Daily Telegraph that he would outline "several" examples of bullying and intimidation, in some cases involving public money.

"I stand by what I have said. No amount of gas-lighting will change that," he told the newspaper.

"The offer of Number 10 to investigate is kind but I shall leave it to the experts. I am meeting the police early next week."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "As with any such allegations, should a criminal offence be reported to the Met, it would be considered."

Christian Wakeford, the Bury South MP who defected to Labour, later described how the Tory whips had warned him over funding for a new school in his constituency if he rebelled in a vote over free school meals.