UK lawmaker says he’ll go to police with ‘blackmail’ claims

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — A British politician who accuses the government of blackmailing opponents of Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he will take his allegations to the police. Conservative lawmaker William Wragg says legislators calling for a challenge to Johnson’s leadership have faced “intimidation” that amounted to blackmail. Johnson has said he’s “seen no evidence” to support Wragg’s claims. The Daily Telegraph newspaper quoted Wragg on Saturday as saying he refused to submit to “gaslighting” and planned to discuss his claims of bullying and intimidation with police next week. Johnson is facing a political crisis over allegations that he and staff held parties while Britain was under coronavirus lockdowns. A handful of Conservative lawmakers have called for his resignation.